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Sana Mir was furious with the sexist criticism the Pakistan women’s national cricket team is facing after their poor performance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England. Sana Mir admitted that Pakistan players failed to meet expectations, but fans crossed the limit the way they have been targeting the team in a way that would never happen with the men's side.
The Pakistan women’s national cricket team ended their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 37-run win over the Netherlands on Saturday, June 27, in Bristol. However, Pakistan’s ouster from the mega event was already sealed after four straight defeats against India, South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh.
Sana Mir defends Pakistan team, says fans crossed the line after ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 disaster
The embarrassing campaign left Pakistani fans frustrated, and they have started targeting the players with sexist and harsh comments on social media. Sana Mir believes there is a clear difference in the way Pakistan's men's and women's teams are treated after defeats.
The former captain has noted that when the men's team loses, people criticize their cricket, but when the women's team fails, people bring gender into the discussion instead of talking only about their performance on the field.
Sana Mir was quoted as saying by PTI, “I see double standards while talking about the performances of the men's and women's teams. I don't agree with the tone of the criticism. Yes, the team has not come up to the expectations, but just because it is the women's team, why add a sexist tone to it?”
Sana Mir blasts disrespect towards Pakistan Women cricketers; demands change in mindset
The former captain, who is currently working as a commentator during the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, insisted that she is also disappointed with Pakistan's performance, but she is more hurt by the disrespect shown towards the women players.
She urged people to understand the difficulties faced by girls who dream of becoming professional cricketers in Pakistan. She said many players have to overcome family and social challenges before they even get the chance to play for the national team.
She noted that it has taken years to prove that Pakistan's women can compete against the best team, yet the team still does not get the same level of respect that the men's team receives. Sana said people must change their mindset if women's cricket in Pakistan wants to grow.
Sana added, “Even after so many years we still don't give the required respect to the women's team while discussing its performances. Our players could not perform the way we expected. It took many years to convince everyone that Pakistan's girls have what it takes, that they can cause upsets. Until we change this mindset, we will get nowhere.”
Sana Mir slams fake AI Videos, calls for stronger structure
The former cricketer also raised concerns over the use of AI-generated videos on social media after fake videos making fun of Pakistani cricketers and spreading fake information went viral. She said that AI videos have deeply hurt the players and also caused a lot of pain to their family members.
Sana also believes that Pakistan needs more domestic tournaments and a much bigger pool of talented players. She noted that there is currently not enough competition for places in the national team, and that affects the players' mindset and overall performance.
