The English artist took the field to perform Pakistan’s Qaumi Taranah in Urdu ahead of the opening match of the Test series between Pakistan and England. Performing national anthems at major sporting spectacles has evolved into a prominent professional path for Laura Wright, yet her latest assignment at Headingley on Wednesday presented a wholly distinct test.
Earlier reporting noted: British Singer Takes 6 Months Urdu Class To Sing Pakistan Anthem, Has This To Say About ‘Jana Gana Mana’ British Singer Takes 6 Months Urdu Class To Sing Pakistan Anthem, Has This To Say About ‘Jana Gana Mana’ British Singer Takes 6 Months Urdu Class To Sing Pakistan Anthem, Has This To Say About ‘Jana Gana Mana’ Earlier reporting noted: A different rendition of the Pakistan national anthem took place ahead of their first Test against England at Headingley, as it was sung in Urdu by English singer Laura Wright. Wright had also sung the Indian national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in Bengali during India’s Test series against England in 2025. Wright revealed the incredible effort she had put in to master the pronunciation of the Pakistan anthem While the rendition split opinions online.
Recalling the intense anxiety associated with mastering the Indian anthem, the performer mentioned dedicating months to listening to the piece and collaborating alongside native Bengali speakers to grasp the precise pronunciation and emotional significance of the text. Discussing those initial jitters, she noted, ‘Singing the Indian anthem for the first time was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been. When you study classical music you’re given a basic understanding of Italian and German, but when you do anthems you come across so many different languages. In a recent interview, Wright shared that she had been learning Urdu – Pakistan’s national language – for six months.
Earlier reporting noted: “Singing the Indian anthem for the first time was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been.
