A fresh controversy has surfaced at the ICC Women’s World Cup after former Pakistan captain and commentator Sana Mir referred to national batter Natalia Pervaiz as being from Azad Jammu and Kashmir during live commentary.
The remark, made during Pakistan’s clash with Bangladesh in Colombo, quickly went viral and drew sharp reactions across Indian media, where anchors demanded disciplinary action against Mir and accused her of “politicising” cricket.
Comment sparks political row
Introducing Pervaiz, Mir highlighted her roots in Azad Kashmir, a detail that she said was meant to celebrate the player’s journey. However, the mention triggered outrage in Indian broadcasts, with many framing it as a political issue.
Natalia Pervaiz’s background
Pervaiz hails from the Bandala Valley of Bhimber district in Azad Kashmir and has represented Pakistan internationally on multiple occasions. Mir later explained that her comment was aimed at showcasing Pervaiz’s resilience and rise to the global stage from her home region.
Sana Mir’s response
Addressing the backlash, Mir clarified on X (formerly Twitter):
“As a commentator on the World Feed, we are meant to highlight the sport, teams, and players. Mentioning a player’s home region is part of telling their story. My words were meant to honor Natalia’s journey, not to make a political statement.”
She added it was “disappointing” that routine commentary had been politicized and urged critics not to place unnecessary pressure on athletes and broadcasters.
Website quietly edits player profile
Amid the uproar, a cricket website that initially listed Pervaiz’s origin as “Azad Kashmir” updated the description, removing the reference. Mir shared screenshots of the original listing on social media, criticizing the edit as another example of how sports and athletes are entangled in political disputes.
The incident highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding Kashmir in cricketing and media circles, once again showing how easily sporting narratives can be overshadowed by geopolitics.
