Former Pakistan skipper stirs massive controversy with Azad Kashmir remark during women’s World Cup match

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New Delhi: Former Pakistan skipper Sana Mir sparked a massive controversy on Thursday after making a Azad Kashmir remark during the Women’s World Cup match between Bangladesh and Pakistan. During the first innings of the game while Pakistan were batting, she made the remarks about Natalia Pervaiz, referring to her as player from Azad Kashmir.

The comment made by Sana has sparked a big backlash on social media and has come into the attention of the cricket fans and authorities. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old cricketer hails from Bandala in Bhimber District of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, which is also being referred to as Azad Kashmir.

While former skipper Mir was stating during the commentary that although Pakistan had won the World Cup Qualifiers earlier this year, many players, including Pervaiz, who hails from Azad Kashmir, were relatively new.

Wrong to use term Azad Kashmir

As per India’s official position, it is considered wrong to use the term Azad Kashmir for the territory which is administered by Pakistan. The reason behind this is that the term implies freedom and legitimacy that India always refuses. India refers to this part as Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) as it was an integral part of India before the 1947 partition and was forcibly occupied by Pakistan.

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