Indian sports presenter issues statement after sudden exit from BPL amid BCCI-BCB row: 'Nation comes first'

Indian sports presenter Ridhima Pathak has issued a clarification after reports claimed that she was dropped from her hosting role in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) amid rising tensions between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, January 7, Ridhima dismissed the reports and said that her exit from the tournament was a personal decision. She stressed that she was not removed by the BPL organisers or the BCB and chose to step away on her own terms.

In a strongly worded post, Ridhima said that “truth matters” and made it clear that the narrative suggesting she was sacked was incorrect. She added that for her, the nation always comes first and that she values cricket beyond any single professional assignment. Ridhima also said she would continue to stand for integrity and clarity.

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“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 wrote on Instagram.

“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.

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Her statement came just hours after Bangladeshi media reports claimed that the BCB had removed her from the BPL hosting panel. Ridhima was co-hosting the BPL 2025-26 coverage alongside Pakistan presenter Zainab Abbas and had already featured in the tournament broadcasts before her sudden exit.

What’s the BCCI-BCB row?

The development comes at a time when relations between the BCB and BCCI are strained. In recent weeks, controversy erupted after the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026. This led to strong reactions in Bangladesh, with the BCB denying Mustafizur a No Objection Certificate and the Bangladesh government later banning the broadcast of the IPL in the country.

The tensions further escalated when the BCB raised security concerns about travelling to India for the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and wrote to the ICC requesting a change of venues for Bangladesh’s matches. As of now, the ICC has reportedly denied Bangladesh’s request.