Cricket Commentary Controversy: Sana Mir’s ‘Azad Kashmir’ Comment and the Backlash

A comment by former Pakistan captain and ICC commentator Sana Mir during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and Bangladesh triggered significant controversy. The comment, made during a description of Pakistani player Natalia Pervaiz, referred to “Azad Kashmir.” This prompted a swift response on social media, particularly from Indian commentators and fans, who objected to the term. The phrase is sensitive in the context of India-Pakistan relations, representing the region known internationally as Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This led to demands for Mir to be removed from the commentary panel. Mir issued a statement to address the controversy, asserting that the comment was aimed at highlighting a player’s journey, without any intention of causing offense. She stated that she was merely trying to share a player’s story. The incident emphasizes the impact of political sensitivities in sports. The upcoming India versus Pakistan match will likely intensify the situation. The game between Bangladesh and Pakistan also saw an impressive performance from Bangladesh, overshadowing the issue to some extent. The incident opens a broader conversation on how organizations handle such regional sensitivities, particularly in the context of international sports hosted in regions with intricate political dynamics.