The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 sparked outrage after former Pakistan captain and pundit Sana Mir said “Azad Kashmir” during live commentary in Pakistan’s opening match against Bangladesh in Colombo.
Sana Mir first stated Natalia Pervaiz’s origins as a Kashmiri cricketer.
She immediately corrected herself, saying ‘Azad Kashmir’, and explained that Pervaiz had to play most of her cricket in Lahore due to a lack of possibilities in her birthplace. The regular insertion instantly sparked controversy, given the phrase ‘Azad Kashmir’ is commonly regarded in India as a political term for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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Shocking to hear a Pakistani commentator call a player “from Azad Kashmir” on air during the #ICCWomensWorldCup2025 match@ICC @BCCI — is such propaganda acceptable?
And then Pakis and liberals cry “keep politics away from sports”? pic.twitter.com/h4rliOcVMM
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 2, 2025
A clip of Mir’s commentary went viral on social media within minutes, with Indian fans accusing her of politicising a global sporting platform. Many called for the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and ICC Chairman Jay Shah to take strict action, with some even demanding a ban on Mir.
“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 public level. My comment about a Pakistan player’s hometown was only meant to highlight the challenges she faced of coming from a certain region in Pakistan and her incredible journey.
It is part of the story telling we do as commentators as 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 wrote on X.
Mir also shared a screenshot of her research source, which has since been updated. She added that it was sad that this requires an explanation at the public level, stating that her focus as a commentator is on inspiring stories of players rather than politics.
“I am also attaching the screen shot of where I research most of my players from, whether from Pakistan or any other country. I realise that they have changed it by now, but this is what I was referring to,” she added.
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