Sana Mir clarifies ‘Azad Kashmir’ comment, but no justification will cut it

Sana Mir clarifies ‘Azad Kashmir’ comment, but it still won’t fly

Sana Mir has now clarified her controversial comment on X with a long post. Her use of the words Azad Kashmir on air has already attracted world attention. The truth is it isn’t a clarification. It is a justification. That it was never her intent and a lot more. The fact is very simple. Mir isn’t a rookie. She has been around for long enough to understand what is acceptable and what is not. What is sensitive and what is permissible.

To cite a source and say she had just taken it from there and said things on air sounds naïve. Does she not own what she is saying? Who cares for her source? She is the one being heard and every word she says has to have her stamp. To say the words Azad Kashmir on a world feed, when tempers are already on the boil is an act of utter disrespect and irresponsibility.

Also Read | ‘Azad Kashmir’ remark lands ex-Pakistan captain Sana Mir in hot water

Mir was one of the best players to have come out of Pakistan. And that she would transition into the commentary box was natural. But then she needs to be a lot more careful than she is. The statement seems to have been handed down to her as a face saver and the idea is to do or say something that would take the steam off the issue. With India versus Pakistan round the corner, Mir has only added to the simmering tension.

Coming to the Pakistan team, they go from bad to worse. While the men have lost three times to India in two weeks, the women have now lost to Bangladesh after being bundled out for just 129. And yet no one is bothered. As long as the India narrative continues to fly, things can be masked and no accountability is needed. Pakistan cricket is on a free fall and yet Mohsin Naqvi continues to peddle his false bravado.

On Sunday it will be yet another cricket game. All this political drama aside, Pakistan will have to play India. And chances are they’d lose again. It could well be that they end up with the wooden spoon for the second consecutive time. That’s where the attention should be. A sport that was once the pride of the cricket world has now reached rock bottom and there is no visible signs for the slide to be arrested. The Pakistan media seems unfazed by these results and are more concerned with quoting our tweets and targeting India. Will Pakistan cricket benefit from such acts? We all know the answer.

To come back to Mir. I’d be interested how she goes about her job from here on. She will know every word is being heard and every action decoded. The atmosphere isn’t normal and she can’t just play up things. She isn’t on PTV that she can say thing and get away. It is the world feed and viewers sensitivities are paramount. At every step the idea should be to keep the focus on cricket and not let things fly off the handle. The controversy has added to the build up for Sunday. All of a sudden a no contest has turned into something more important with the cricket world intently watching for the next chapter in this drama.