KARACHI(The COW News Digital) Former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Sana Mir has strongly criticized gender-based attacks directed at the national women’s cricket team, urging the public to judge players on their performances rather than their gender.
Speaking about the criticism frequently faced by women cricketers, Sana Mir questioned the double standards applied to female athletes. She pointed out that Pakistan’s men’s cricket team has also experienced disappointing performances in major international tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, yet male players are rarely subjected to the same type of personal and gender-based insults.
Mir said criticism should remain focused on sporting performances instead of targeting women with offensive remarks. She questioned whether any female cricketer had ever suggested that male players abandon cricket and pursue unrelated professions after poor performances, highlighting the unfair treatment women athletes often receive.
The former captain also expressed concern over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to create fake videos targeting female cricketers. She said fabricated content and misinformation are being circulated on social media, contributing to harassment and damaging the reputations of players.
According to Mir, the problem extends beyond criticism of results and reflects a broader societal mindset toward women in sports. She argued that meaningful progress would remain difficult unless attitudes toward female athletes change and respect becomes a central part of public discourse.
She emphasized that athletes, regardless of gender, experience fluctuations in form throughout their careers and should be evaluated by the same standards. Constructive criticism, she said, is a natural part of competitive sport, but personal attacks and gender-based discrimination have no place in cricket or any other profession.
Sana Mir has long been regarded as one of Pakistan’s most influential women’s cricketers, playing a key role in promoting women’s cricket nationally and internationally. During her career, she led Pakistan in multiple international tournaments and became a prominent advocate for greater opportunities and recognition for women in sports.
Her latest remarks have sparked renewed discussion on social media about the treatment of female athletes, with many supporters backing her call for fair criticism and equal respect. The debate has also highlighted growing concerns over online abuse and the misuse of AI-generated content against public figures.
Mir urged fans to support the national women’s team through constructive engagement, saying that encouragement and fair evaluation are essential for the continued growth of women’s cricket in Pakistan.
