Indian sports presenter Ridhima Pathak, has clarified that she was not dropped from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Speculation around Pathak’s removal surfaced amid a sharp downturn in sporting ties between the two countries. Several Bangladeshi media reports claimed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had officially removed her from the BPL panel. Pathak, however, said the decision to step away from the tournament was entirely her own.
Pathak breaks silence on BPL exit
Addressing the reports on social media, Pathak wrote, “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."
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“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.”
The controversy comes amid escalating tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the BCB. On January 3, the BCCI reportedly asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. In response, the Bangladesh government announced a nationwide ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and demanded that its T20 World Cup matches be shifted out of India.
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly turned down Bangladesh’s request to move their matches for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 out of India.
As per an ESPNCricinfo report on Tuesday night (January 6), the ICC informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) during a virtual meeting that the request had been denied.
The governing body reportedly said it would not relocate Bangladesh’s matches from India, despite the security concerns raised.
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