Did Bangladesh drop Ridhima Pathak from the BPL 2025–26 hosting panel? Indian presenter breaks her silence

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The sporting ties between India and Bangladesh have taken a sharp downturn following widespread reports that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially removed Indian presenter Ridhima Pathak from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26. This move is being viewed as the latest ripple effect in a rapidly escalating diplomatic and sporting row that reached a breaking point this week. As headlines began to suggest her career was caught in the crossfire of retaliatory measures, Pathak finally broke her silence on January 7, 2026, to address the situation.

Amidst a flurry of narratives from various media outlets claiming she had been ousted due to the current political climate, Ridhima Pathak took to social media to clarify the circumstances of her exit. While initial reports suggested a targeted removal by the BCB as a response to recent cricketing tensions, Pathak revealed that her departure from the T20 league’s panel was a personal choice made with deep conviction. She stated that the narrative suggesting she was “dropped” is not true and explained that she made a personal decision to opt out because her nation comes first. Pathak, a mainstay in Indian sports broadcasting, emphasized that she values the integrity and clarity of the game far beyond any single assignment and thanked those who reached out with support, concluding that cricket deserves the truth.

“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.” Ridhima Pathak wrote.

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The friction between the two nations reached a tipping point on January 3, 2026, when the BCCI directed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. KKR, who had signed Mustafizur for a record ₹9.20 crore, was forced to let him go after the BCCI cited “recent developments” and security concerns regarding the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. The fallout has been severe, as the Bangladesh government subsequently imposed an indefinite ban on the telecast of IPL 2026 via local operators, claiming the move was in the “public interest” after what they labeled an unprovoked insult to their national icon.

In a major escalation, the BCB formally informed the ICC that they were “reluctant” to travel to India for the T20 World Cup in February, demanding their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. However, in a significant blow to the BCB’s demands, the ICC reportedly rejected the request on January 7, stating that there are no credible security threats to the Bangladesh team in India. The global body has reportedly informed the BCB that they must travel to the designated venues in Kolkata and Mumbai or risk forfeiting their matches and points. As Ridhima Pathak steps away from the BPL microphone, the cricketing world is left watching a complete breakdown in relations that now threatens the participation of an entire nation in the upcoming World Cup.

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