Colombo, Sri Lanka – Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir is continuing her role as commentator in the Women's World Cup 2025, despite recent controversy surrounding her on-air remarks about "Azad Kashmir". The incident occurred during the Pakistan vs. Bangladesh match where Mir referred to Pakistani player Natalia Pervaiz as being from "Azad Kashmir," a term for the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir.
The comment quickly drew criticism on social media, with some Indian fans calling for her removal from the commentary panel, alleging that she was politicizing the broadcast. Mir has since defended her statement, explaining that she was simply highlighting the challenges faced by the player due to her background and that her comments were not intended to be political. She also shared a screenshot from ESPNcricinfo, where she said she conducts most of her research, which at the time listed Pervaiz's hometown as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir". The page has since been updated to read "Pakistan-administered Kashmir".
"It's unfortunate how things are being blown out of proportion and people in sports are being subjected to unnecessary pressure," Mir stated in a social media post. "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". She urged people not to politicize the issue, emphasizing that her focus as a commentator is on the sport, teams, and players.
Despite the controversy, Mir remains part of the commentary team for the tournament, joining a star-studded panel that includes former Indian captains Mithali Raj and Anjum Chopra. Raj and Chopra are part of a strong female-led commentary team. The Women's World Cup 2025 is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan playing their matches in Colombo.
The inclusion of Mir, Raj, and Chopra in the commentary team underscores the growing prominence of women in cricket broadcasting. The ICC has emphasized its commitment to providing a world-class broadcast experience for the tournament, featuring a female-led commentary panel and a range of technological innovations.
The India-Pakistan match on Sunday, October 5th, was highly anticipated. Prior to the match, Anjum Chopra shared her insights on the Indian team and the pressure of the rivalry, noting the importance of Deepti Sharma to India's success. Chopra has also raised concerns about politics impacting cricket.
Mithali Raj has offered advice to the Indian team on what they need to do to win the World Cup, emphasizing the importance of seizing key moments. Raj, who has led India to two World Cup finals, believes that winning the title would have a massive impact on women's cricket in India. She also expressed that the surfaces for this World Cup are good for scoring, so the game is no longer about 250 totals but that 350 totals can also be chased now.
The Women's World Cup 2025 continues, with teams vying for the coveted title in what promises to be a competitive and exciting tournament.
