Former Pakistani captain Sana Mir has focused the Indian recoil to her on-AR reference to “Azad Kashmir” during comments in the ICC World Cup 2025 from Pakistan against Bangladesh in Colombo.
The comment came to the R Premadasa Stadium when Mir, while talking about all -rounder Natalia Pervaiz, called ‘Kashmir’ for the first time before corrected himself for ‘Azad Kashmir’.
After criticizing social media by Indian spectators, MIR issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) and said that her words were blown out of proportion, and complained that “people in sport are being subjected to unnecessary pressure.”
She clarified that her words were never intended as a political comment, but as part of the stories that commentators do by emphasizing the background of players.
“It’s a shame how things are blown out of proportion […] My remark about the birth city of a Pakistani player was only meant to emphasize the challenges that she was confronted […] There is no malice in my heart or any intention to harm feelings, “wrote Mir.
She added that as a commentator around the world was her role to concentrate on sport and players, presenting inspiring stories about grit and perseverance, not politically.
To support her statement, MIR also shared a screenshot of ESPNCRICINFOshows Natalia Pervaiz’s profile with her birthplace as “Bandala, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.” Mir explained that this was her source of information, although she noticed that the site has been updated since then.
The clarification comes in a sensitive time in cricketrelations between Pakistan and India. The Men’s Asia Cup 2025 tournament saw the Indian team of the Indian manuals refuse with Pakistani players, while the trophy presentation was overshadowed by the refusal of India to accept medals from ACC and PCB chef Mohsin Naqvi.
With the women of Pakistan who play all their matches in Sri Lanka because of PCB-BCCI voltages, the controversy around Mir’s remark has further emphasized how cricket remains entangled from politics.
Bangladesh won the game with seven wickets, which made Pakistan trouble floating in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup.
