**Sana Mir Retained in Commentary Panel Despite Azad Kashmir Comment**
*By Parth Dhall | Oct 05, 2025, 07:54 PM*
Sana Mir, former Pakistan cricket captain, has been retained in the commentary panel for the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup match between India and Pakistan. This decision comes amid controversy sparked by her on-air mention of “Azad Kashmir” during Pakistan’s opening match against Bangladesh last Thursday.
**Controversy Erupts Over On-Air Comment**
During the match, Mir referred to batter Natalia Pervaiz’s background, stating, “Yes, they have won the qualifiers, but a lot of these players are new. Natalia, who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir.” This remark triggered significant backlash on social media, with many users demanding Mir’s removal from the commentary panel.
**Sana Mir Responds to Criticism**
In response to the uproar, Mir expressed her disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the situation was being exaggerated and that sports personalities were facing unnecessary pressure. She urged fans worldwide to concentrate on the sport rather than politicize commentary remarks.
**Clarification: No Malice Intended**
Mir clarified that her comment was part of the storytelling aspect commentators often use to highlight players’ backgrounds. She emphasized that there was no malice or intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments. “It’s part of the storytelling we do as commentators about where players come from,” she said, adding that she had mentioned other players’ regions as well during the broadcast.
**Commitment to Transparency**
To further clarify her source of information, Mir shared a screenshot of the database she consults for player backgrounds, covering athletes from Pakistan and other countries. While she acknowledged that the source has since been changed, she maintained that this was the reference behind her comment.
Though Mir was not featured on Star Sports, India’s official broadcaster for the Women’s World Cup, a screenshot of her on-air appearance quickly went viral, fueling the debate.
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Despite the controversy, the decision to retain Sana Mir in the commentary panel underlines the view that her comments were not intended to be political and that her expertise continues to be valued for the World Cup coverage.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/sana-mir-retained-in-commentary-panel/story
