Ridhima Pathak denies being expelled from BPL after extremist threats

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced that Indian anchorwoman Ridhima Pathak is no longer part of the host team for the ongoing 2025-26 Bangladesh Premier League season. However, Pathak said she made the decision herself voluntarily, denying allegations that she was removed from her position by the Bangladesh board.

Sporting relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated after the BCCI asked the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 Indian Premier League. The decision is also seen as a sign of growing tension between the two countries, with the dispute now going beyond politics and touching on cricket.

Bangladesh responds by banning broadcast of IPL, demanding venues for World Cup

After Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the IPL, Bangladesh took a series of strong countermeasures. The government announced a nationwide ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League, ending its broadcast on local cable networks.

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At the cricket board level, the Bangladesh Cricket Board held an emergency meeting and raised security concerns regarding travel to India for the T20 World Cup. The BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council to move the matches from Bangladesh to Sri Lanka.

However, the ICC said Bangladesh must play their matches in India or risk losing. The situation has also created uncertainty over the participation of Bangladeshi golfers in events organized by the Professional Golf Tour of India, with the conflict spreading across all sports.

Ridhima Pathak opens up on reports of BPL exit

Amid tensions between the two cricket boards, Bangladeshi media claimed that Indian presenter Ridhima Pathak had been removed from the BCB hosting panel. Pathak clarified that these reports were incorrect and added that she had not been abandoned, while declining to comment further.

“Over the past few hours, there has been a rumor suggesting that I have been ‘dropped’ from the BPL. This is not true. I have made a personal decision to step down. For me, my nation always comes first. game.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us. Your messages mean more than you know. Cricket deserves the truth. Period. No further comments from me.”

Mustafizur Rahman’s release triggers Bangladesh Cricket Board

Mustafizur Rahman has been released by Kolkata Knight Riders. Notably, KKR had picked him up for Rs 9.20 crore in the 2026 Indian Premier League auction, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India later asked the franchise to let him go after strong backlash.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board also took the matter to the International Cricket Council. The BCB has requested the ICC to move Bangladesh’s matches of the 2026 T20 World Cup out of India, citing security concerns.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC also discussed the issue in a virtual meeting and rejected the request. The ICC told the BCB that Bangladesh had to travel to India to play their matches. If they refuse, they could lose points and risk early elimination from the tournament.

As per the current schedule, Bangladesh will play all four Group C matches in India. They will face West Indies, Italy and England in Kolkata at Eden Gardens. After that, they will travel to Mumbai to play their final group match against Nepal.

Also read: ICC EXCLUDES Bangladesh from T20 World Cup 2026, replacement identified