Sana Mir, former Pakistani cricketer, has addressed the controversy surrounding her remarks about Kashmir during the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup hosted in India. Mir, who is part of the commentary team for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, faced criticism for her comments during the Pakistan vs. Bangladesh match on October 2nd. The former captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team has released a 171-word statement to clarify the situation.
The relationship between India and Pakistan has been strained, with tensions escalating after the Indian army’s operation following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This has impacted the cricket field. During the recent Asia Cup 2025, there were no handshakes between India and Pakistan teams, sparking controversy. The Indian team’s refusal to accept the trophy from the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi in the final of the tournament further fueled the debate. Now, during the Women’s World Cup, Sana Mir’s comments from the commentary box have added to the tension.
During the Women’s World Cup match against Bangladesh, when Pakistan’s Natalia Parvez was batting, Sana Mir, while commentating, referred to her as coming from ‘Azad Kashmir,’ causing a stir. Mir stated that Parvez had to come to Lahore to play cricket. The video of Mir’s comment quickly spread online, prompting fans to call for ICC action on social media.
Mir has since issued a clarification on her X handle. She expressed that she believes the situation has been exaggerated and that people in sports are facing undue pressure. She stated that it was unfortunate that she needed to provide a public explanation.
She further explained that her comment was intended to highlight the challenges faced by a Pakistani player due to her hometown and her exceptional journey. This, she said, is part of the commentary that provides background on the players.
In her clarification, Mir added that she made similar comments about two other players from different regions. She appealed for the issue not to be politicized and that she had no malicious intent.
Mir also shared a screenshot from which she had researched the player, mentioning that she was referring to the information available to her at the time, even if it had been updated.