Archive · 21 Aug 2026
English Singer Learns Urdu for Pakistan National Anthem
Laura Wright is an English singer who performs national anthems at sports events.
She recently sang Pakistan’s national anthem before a cricket match.
The anthem is called Qaumi Taranah and is written in Urdu.
Because Urdu was new to her, Wright spent six months learning it.
She said she takes the responsibility seriously.
She only accepts these performances when she has enough time to prepare.
In 2025, she also sang India’s national anthem before cricket Tests against England.
She performed it again before a women’s Test at Lord’s last month.
English mezzo-soprano Laura Wright performed Pakistan’s Qaumi Taranah at Headingley.
She spent six months learning Urdu for the performance.
The anthem was sung before Pakistan’s opening Test against England.
Wright previously performed India’s Jana Gana Mana during England’s 2025 men’s Test series.
She also sang India’s anthem before last month’s women’s Test at Lord’s.
- Who
- English mezzo-soprano Laura Wright performed Pakistan’s national anthem.
- What
- Wright sang Qaumi Taranah in Urdu before a cricket Test match.
- When
- The performance took place on Wednesday; she spent six months preparing for it, and had previously performed India’s anthem in 2025 and last month.
- Where
- Headingley, before Pakistan’s opening Test against England.
- Why
- Wright considers anthem performances a serious responsibility and accepts them only when she has enough preparation time.
- Performer
- Laura Wright, an English mezzo-soprano
- Anthem performed
- Pakistan’s Qaumi Taranah
- Language
- Urdu
- Preparation time
- Six months
- Event
- The opening Test of Pakistan’s series against England
- Previous performance
- India’s Jana Gana Mana during England’s 2025 men’s Test series
- Additional performance
- India’s anthem before the women’s Test at Lord’s last month