Indian sports presenter Ridhima Pathak took to Instagram on Wednesday (January 7) to share a post via which she stated that she was not dropped from the hosting duties of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Bangladesh. According to Pathak, the reports of her getting dropped from the BPL are not true.
In a post which is now going viral on the internet, Pathak stated that she made a personal decision to opt out because for her, the nation always comes first.
“Truth matters. 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,” Ridhima worte.
“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,” she added in a post which is now viral on the internet.
Ridhima’s reaction came hours after Bangladeshi media reported that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) removed her from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Ridhima, who has hosted many cricket shows and events for broadcasters Star Sports and Sony Sports in India, was co-hosting BPL 2025-26 alongside Pakistan’s Zainab Abbas in Bangladesh.
ICC rejects BCB’s request
The International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly has rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches away from India.
According to a report in ESPNCricinfo on Tuesday night (January 6), the ICC has rejected BCB’s request. As per the available information, in a virtual call on Tuesday, the ICC told BCB that they are rejecting their request to play T20 World Cup 2026 matches outside India due to security concerns.
The ICC has told the Bangladesh Cricket Board that “Bangladesh will need to travel to India to play the T20 World Cup or risk forfeiting points.”
