The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 saw an unexpected off-field stir on Thursday when former Pakistan captain and now commentator, Sana Mir, faced significant criticism for an on-air comment. The controversy ignited during Pakistan’s inaugural match against Bangladesh. While discussing batter Natalia’s origins, Mir stated, ‘…captaining a very young side. Yes, they have won the qualifiers, but a lot of these players are new. 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.’
This remark quickly drew widespread attention on social media, with many Indian fans urging the ICC and BCCI to remove Mir, accusing her of introducing politics into the sports broadcast. Given the ICC’s firm stance on maintaining neutrality, a heated debate ensued over whether her comments crossed an acceptable boundary.
Responding to the mounting criticism, Mir took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a detailed three-paragraph clarification. She emphasized that her words were misinterpreted and taken out of context. ‘It’s unfortunate how things are being blown out of proportion and people in sports are being subjected to unnecessary pressure. It is sad that this requires an explanation at public level,’ she wrote.
To further explain her perspective, Mir included a screenshot from a well-known cricket website, which listed ‘Azad Kashmir’ as her own birthplace. She clarified that her intention was simply to highlight a player’s background and the resilience required in their journey. ‘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 politicize 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.’ She also noted that while the information might have since been updated, it was the source she referred to at the time.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan (Photo by Sameera Peiris/Getty Images)
Sana Mir’s clarifying post on X.
Meanwhile, the actual cricket match saw Bangladesh securing a convincing seven-wicket victory over Pakistan. Chasing a target of 130 runs, Bangladesh comfortably reached 131 for 3 in just 31.1 overs. Opener Rubya Haider led the charge with an unbeaten 54 runs off 77 balls, well-supported by Sobhana Mostary’s 24 not out. Earlier in the innings, Pakistan struggled and were bowled out for 129 in 38.3 overs, with minor contributions from Rameen Shamim (23) and Fatima Sana (22). Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Shorna Akter (3 wickets), alongside Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter (two wickets each), delivered a stellar performance that effectively overshadowed Pakistan’s batting woes.
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