Who is Sana Mir? Former Pakistan captain in hot water for controversial ‘Azad Kashmir’ comment on-air

Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir faced heavy criticism for an on-air remark referring to “Azad Kashmir” during the Women’s World Cup broadcast, prompting accusations of politicization. Mir clarified her comments, stating they were taken out of context to highlight a player's challenges. Concurrently, Pakistan struggled on the field, losing their opening match to Bangladesh by seven wickets.

Sana Mir (Agency Photo)

The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 was rocked on Thursday when former Pakistan captain and commentator Sana Mir came under heavy criticism for an on-air remark referring to “Azad Kashmir”. During Pakistan’s opening match against Bangladesh, while describing batter Natalia Pervaiz, Mir said: “… Natalia who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, plays in Lahore a lot of cricket. She has to come to Lahore to play most of her cricket there.” The comment sparked a massive social media backlash, with Indian fans tagging the ICC and BCCI, accusing her of politicising the broadcast. Mir later posted a three-paragraph clarification on X, stating her words were taken out of context and aimed solely at highlighting the player’s challenges and resilience: “There is no malice in my heart or any intention to hurt sentiments.” She also shared a screenshot of her research source, noting it had since been updated. Meanwhile, Pakistan struggled on the field, being bowled out for 129, with Bangladesh chasing 131 for 3, powered by Rubya Haider’s unbeaten 54 and Shorna Akter’s three wickets, to secure a seven-wicket victory.

Who is Sana Mir?

Sana Mir, now 39, is one of Pakistan’s most iconic women cricketers, widely regarded as a pioneer in the sport for her country. A former captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, she led the side for nearly a decade, becoming the first Pakistani woman to reach 100 wickets in T20 internationals and one of the leading wicket-takers in women’s ODIs. Beyond her on-field achievements, Mir has been a mentor and inspiration for young female cricketers, advocating for women’s cricket development in Pakistan. She has also represented Pakistan in multiple ICC Women’s World Cups and T20 World Cups, earning respect for her consistency and sportsmanship. After retiring from competitive cricket, Mir transitioned into commentary and cricket analysis, sharing her insights on international broadcasts and continuing to shape the narrative of women’s cricket globally.

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