Sports
Sana Mir hits back at Indian calls for her removal from commentary | The Express Tribune
Former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Sana Mir has responded to criticism from Indian fans after her on-air remarks during the ongoing Women’s World Cup, urging everyone not to politicise the issue.
Mir, who is part of the ICC’s commentary panel, came under fire after she said during Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh that batter Natalia Pervaiz comes from “Kashmir, Azad Kashmir” and plays most of her cricket in Lahore. The comment immediately drew reactions on Indian social media, with some fans tagging the ICC and BCCI, accusing Mir of “politicising the broadcast” and demanding her removal.
“What caught even more attention was that Mir initially said ‘Kashmir’, before correcting herself to say ‘Azad Kashmir’,” Indian media reported.
Addressing the matter in a statement posted on X, Mir said the incident was being blown out of proportion.
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.
My comment about a Pakistan player’s hometown was only meant to highlight the challenges… pic.twitter.com/G722fLj17C
— Sana Mir ثناء میر (@mir_sana05) October 2, 2025
“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.
Mir explained that her comments were only meant to highlight Pervaiz’s journey as a player and the challenges she faced coming from a particular region in Pakistan.
“It is part of the storytelling 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 politicise it,” she said.
The former skipper, who in June became the first Pakistani woman inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, added that her focus as a commentator was on sharing inspiring stories of grit and perseverance.
“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,” Mir stated.
To support her remarks, she also shared a screenshot of Natalia Pervaiz’s ESPNCricinfo profile, which at the time listed her hometown as Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The page has since been updated to “Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”
“I am also attaching the screen shot of where I research most of my players from, whether from Pakistan or any other country. I realise that they have changed it by now, but this is what I was referring to,” she said.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, which have recently spilled onto the cricket field as well.
Sports
Fever star Sophie Cunningham continues condemnation of WNBA commissioner: ‘Cathy, no one cares’
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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has been among the most outspoken WNBA players to address the recent controversy surrounding Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. During her latest podcast episode, Cunningham continued to speak out, calling out the league boss for acting out of self-interest.
Both on social media and during her exit interview on Wednesday, Cunningham spoke at length about her issues with Engelbert and league officiating.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) warms up before the start of the game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
“I’m just tired of our league. They need to step up and be better. Our leadership from top to bottom needs to be held accountable. I think there are a lot of people in positions of power in the WNBA, who they might be really great business people, but they don’t know s— about basketball. And that’s gotta change.”
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In the latest episode of her podcast, “Show Me Something,” Cunningham expanded on her thoughts amid the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.
“At the end of the day, everyone’s fed up – fed up with how the league is treating us.
“They should be ashamed of themselves for what they’re giving back to us because it’s nothing. It is nothing. They’re not listening. The thing is, they’re not even engaging with us. It is bad.”
Cunningham, whose first season with the Fever was cut short due to injury, again addressed Engelbert. She said Engelbert lacked the qualities of a “great leader,” and said that recent comments from the commissioner were out of self-interest.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) plays against the Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
“Great leaders want to see other people be more successful than them, they want to make sure that they’re cared for,” Cunningham said. “And I get it, she’s the business side of it. Like, I get it. But you can be respectful and treat your product – the product of why people are paying attention, why people are buying certain jerseys – treat your product with respect.
“Like, be a great leader. She’s not. She’s not in any sense. The disrespect is just crazy to me.”
“I think this just such a pivotal point in the WNBA because there’s so many eyes on us, there’s so many new fans – there’s millions of millions, I should say, of new fans – and at the end of the day she’s worried about her. In all of her statements it’s like, ‘Well, I got us here and I –,’ Cathy no one cares. Literally, no one cares.”
Engelbert addressed the media Friday, and was asked about comments Napheesa Collier alleged she made about star player Caitlin Clark. Engelbert denied the accusations.
Cathy Engelbert talks to the media during the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15, 2024, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. (Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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“Obviously, I did not make those comments. Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She’s been a great representative of the game. She’s brought in tens of millions of new fans to the game,” she said.
“There’s a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media and all this reporting,” she later added. “A lot of reporting, a lot of inaccuracy about what I say, what I didn’t say.”
The players’ association and the WNBA agreed to an eight-year agreement in 2020, but last year the WNBPA voted to opt out of the agreement early. The current agreement is set to expire Oct. 31.
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It’s the final weekend of action all across Europe before the international break.
Saturday’s action continues in the Premier League with Manchester United hosting Sunderland as the pressure builds on United manager Ruben Amorim, and we have a huge heavyweight clash with Chelsea taking on Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Finally in the Bundesliga, we have Eintracht Frankfurt against Bayern Munich.
Enjoy Saturday’s action of all the major events happening in Europe.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja starred with bat and ball as India hammered West Indies by an innings and 140 runs inside three days of the first Test on Saturday.
India declared on their overnight 448-5, a lead of 286, and then bundled the West Indies out for 146 in the second session at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
It was another heavy and demoralising defeat for West Indies, who are a pale shadow of the team that once ruled world cricket.
Left-handed Jadeja stood out for India with 4-54 from his spin bowling after he hit an unbeaten 104 for his sixth Test century and was named player of the match.
“Honestly, I think this was the perfect game for us,” India skipper Shubman Gill said. “Three centuries and we fielded really well, so no complaints.”
“When you’ve got quality spinners like them, it’s difficult to be able to rotate, but it’s good to have an option of too many,” he said of his bowlers.
“That’s the fun of playing in India.”
Alick Athanaze, a left-handed number three, made 38 and offered some belated resistance with Justin Greaves in a partnership of 46, but the rest of the West Indies batting fell apart.
Washington Sundar and then pace bowler Mohammed Siraj struck regular blows before Kuldeep Yadav wrapped up the match as the West Indies innings folded in 45.1 overs.
Siraj continued his good form with figures of 4-40 in the first innings after West Indies opted to bat.
He then extended his tally of wickets this year to 30, after playing a key role in India’s 2-2 draw in England.
India have still not lost a Test to the West Indies at home since 1994.
‘Improve skills’
West Indies were swept 3-0 at home by Australia this year and were bowled out for 27 in the third match—the second-lowest score in Test history.
Their batting woes continued after they won the toss and could only manage a meagre first innings total of 162.
“Obviously, we had a poor batting display, that’s been something that’s been plaguing us for the past two series,” Chase told reporters. “We’ve not been able to at least bat 80 overs by a day or even get at least 250 or 300 runs on the board.”
“I just think that we have to improve our skill levels.”
KL Rahul led India’s batting dominance with his 100 before Dhruv Jurel, who made 125, and Jadeja put on 206 for the fifth wicket on Friday.
Jadeja took on the West Indies spinners, hitting left-arm orthodox Jomel Warrican for five sixes.
Chase claimed two wickets and debutant left-arm spinner Khary Pierre claimed his first in a Test after wicketkeeper-batsman Jurel registered his maiden Test century.
West Indies have struggled in the absence of premier fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, both ruled out with injury.
India are strong favourites to win 2-0 against an opposition that is a pale shadow of the team that once ruled world cricket.
The second Test begins on October 10 in New Delhi.
Fever star Sophie Cunningham continues condemnation of WNBA commissioner: ‘Cathy, no one cares’
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