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The sporting ties between India and Bangladesh are at an all-time low amid rising diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Amid a row over Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman's snub from the Indian Premier League (IPL), reports claimed on Wednesday that Indian presenter Ridhima Pathak was officially removed from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The BPL 2025-26 season is currently underway in Bangladesh, and Ridhima, a well-known sports broadcaster, was co-hosting the tournament alongside Pakistan's Zainab Abbas. Reports claimed that she was dropped from the panel by the Bangladesh Premier League amid threats from extremist groups in the country.
However, Ridhima took to social media to refute the claims and issue a clarification on the matter. The sports presenter revealed she was not 'dropped', but it was her personal decision to opt out of her contract in the league. In a statement on her Instagram, Ridhima said that for her, India comes first before any cricketing assignment.
"In the last few hours, there's been a narrative suggesting I was "dropped" from the BPL. That's not true," Ridhima wrote on her Instagram story.
"I made a personal decision to opt out. For me, my nation comes first - always. And I a value the game of cricket far beyond any single assignment," she added.
What was being perceived as a ripple effect amid the escalating diplomatic and sporting row between India and Bangladesh has now been confirmed as Ridhima's personal decision. Earlier, BCB officials had confirmed to the country's media that the presenter was relieved of her duties for the ongoing BPL season.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)'s request to move Bangladesh's matches out of India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. BCB had sent a formal request to the ICC to shift their matches in a retaliatory move after Mustafizur's snub from the IPL.
However, ICC has reportedly warned BCB that Bangladesh will have to forfeit points if they refuse to play in India. As per the released schedule, Bangladesh are set to play all four of their group-stage matches in India. Bangladesh will play first three games at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and will lock horns with Nepal in their final group-stage match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
