Ridhima Pathak later clarified the situation, stating that she had voluntarily withdrawn from the T20 league due to the prevailing political climate and that there was no pressure or directive from the BCB.
Indian sports presenter Ridhima Pathak (Picture: @Instagram)
Amid rising tensions between neighbouring nations India and Bangladesh, reports in Bangladeshi media claimed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had removed Indian sports presenter Ridhima Pathak from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
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Pathak, a prominent Indian sports presenter, was set to be part of the BPL hosting lineup. Over the years, she has hosted events across multiple sports, including cricket, the NBA, the Olympics, chess, and the Asian Games, and currently has a following of 1,96,000 on Instagram.
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However, Pathak later clarified the situation, stating that she had voluntarily withdrawn from the T20 league due to the prevailing political climate and that there was no pressure or directive from the BCB.
Addressing the rumours in a statement shared on social media, Pathak said:
“In the last few hours, there’s been a narrative suggesting I was ‘dropped’ from the BPL. That is not true. I made a personal decision to opt out. For me, my nation comes first—always. And I value the game of cricket far beyond any single assignment. I’ve been privileged to serve this sport for years with honesty, respect, and passion. That won’t change. I’ll continue to stand for integrity, for clarity, and for the spirit of the game.
“Thank you to everyone who reached out with support. Your messages mean more than you know. Cricket deserves truth. Period. No further comments from my side.”
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The rift between the two countries has also spilled over into administrative matters. According to ESPNcricinfo, a meeting between the ICC and the BCB was held to address Bangladesh’s concerns over the security of their players and their request to shift World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.
However, the ICC rejected the request, maintaining that there is no visible security threat to the players. The global body reportedly warned the BCB that the team must travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup or risk forfeiting points in the tournament.
Earlier, the BCB imposed an indefinite ban on the broadcast of IPL and related programmes in Bangladesh in retaliation to the release of Pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Rider’s lineup, after the decision was announced by Devajit Saikia, the BCCI Secretary.
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