Follow UsThe India-Pakistan political issue refuses to die down in cricketing parlance as one after the other, like a demon from mythological references, it keeps on raising its ugly head. The latest to join the controversy bandwagon was former Pakistan women’s captain Sana Mir, who is part of ICC’s commentary panel for the Women’s World Cup 2025.
While commentating during Pakistan’s tournament opener against Bangladesh in Colombo, Mir, while referring to Pakistan player Natalia Pervaiz, said, “Natalia, who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, plays a lot of her cricket in Lahore. She has to come to Lahore to play most of her cricket there.”
While she was focussing on the challenges faced by Parvez in commuting from a remote Himalayan region, her mention of the word Azad Kashmir triggered Indians on the internet and they tagged the BCCI and ICC, asking for Sana’s removal from the panel.
As the issue gained traction, the former Pakistan captain, who represented the Women in Green in 120 ODIs and 106 T20Is between 2005 and 2019, resorted to X to clarify her stance.
“It’s unfortunate how things are being blown out of proportion and people in sports are being subjected to unnecessary pressure. It is sad that this requires an explanation at a public level,” Sana posted on X.
“My comment about a Pakistan player's hometown was only meant to highlight the challenges she faced coming from a certain region in Pakistan and her incredible journey. It is part of the story telling we do as commentators as to where the players come from.
“I did that today for two other players coming from other regions, too. Please don’t politicise it. As a commentator on the World Feed, we are meant to focus on the sport, teams, and players, highlighting inspiring stories of grit and perseverance. There is no malice in my heart or any intention to hurt sentiments,” she added.
Eventually, she even provided the source where Natalia’s birthplace was mentioned as Azad Kashmir. “I realise that they have changed it by now, but this is what I was referring to,” Sana wrote, sharing the screenshot from Natalia’s profile page from ESPNcricinfo, which has actually been changed, as predicted by the former Pakistan skipper.
As for the match in which all this transpired, it was one-sided at best. Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by seven wickets.