Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir came under fire on social media after she referred to a player’s hometown as “Azad ****” during commentary in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Colombo.
The remark sparked a wave of criticism online, with several users accusing her of pushing a political narrative.
Responding to the controversy, Mir took to her official X handle to clarify her stance. She called it “unfortunate” that “things are being blown out of proportion and people in sports are being subjected to unnecessary pressure.” Mir added, “There is no malice in my heart or any intention to hurt sentiments.”
She explained that her intention was only to highlight the challenges faced by Pakistan batter Natalia Pervaiz, who hails from the region, and to share her journey as part of storytelling in sports commentary.
“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. 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 posted.
The incident occurred when Natalia Pervaiz came to bat. During commentary, Mir was heard saying, “...Captaining a very young side. Yes, they have won the qualifiers, but a lot of these players are new. Natalia who comes from ****, Azad ****, plays in Lahore a lot of cricket. She has to come to Lahore to play most of her cricket there.”
The clip went viral and quickly drew angry reactions from fans, with some tagging the ICC and BCCI, demanding Mir’s removal from the commentary panel. The Women’s World Cup is being played under a hybrid model, with Pakistan’s matches scheduled in Colombo despite the tournament being hosted in India.
As for the match itself, Bangladesh dominated with the ball, dismissing Pakistan for 129 in 38.3 overs. Shorna Akter starred with figures of 3/5 in 3.3 overs, while Rameen Shamim (23) and skipper Fatima Sana (22) were the only batters to cross 20 runs. In reply, Rubya Haider guided Bangladesh to victory with a fluent 54 off 77 balls, securing a seven-wicket win with 113 balls to spare.
India will face Pakistan in a high-voltage encounter in Colombo on Sunday.