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Ridhima Pathak Denies BPL Exit Rumours, Says "Nation First"

Indian sports broadcaster Ridhima Pathak has clarified that her absence from the Bangladesh Premier League was a personal choice, not a removal. She strongly denied reports suggesting she was "dropped" from the tournament. Her statement comes amidst heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh concerning cricket. These tensions include Bangladesh suspending IPL broadcasts and seeking to relocate its 2026 T20 World Cup matches from India.

Key Points: Ridhima Pathak Clarifies BPL Exit Was Personal Decision

  • Pathak refutes "dropped" narrative
  • Cites personal decision to opt out
  • Stresses integrity and nation first
  • Move amid India-Bangladesh cricket tensions
2 min read

Personal decision to opt out: Indian sports presenter clears air on BPL exit

Indian sports presenter Ridhima Pathak refutes claims she was dropped from the Bangladesh Premier League, stating she chose to opt out.

"For me, my nation comes first-always. - Ridhima Pathak"

New Delhi, Jan 7

Indian sports broadcaster Ridhima Pathak has quashed the reports claiming she was dropped from the Bangladesh Premier League, stating that it was her personal decision to opt out of the league and the narrative suggesting she was "dropped" from the league is false.

"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," Ridhima said in a statement she shared on social media.

"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.

The development comes amid heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh. On Monday, the Bangladesh government ordered the suspension of the broadcast of all matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season amid the controversy surrounding Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.

The decision comes after Rahman was released from the IPL following instructions issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), triggering widespread debate and criticism in Bangladesh.

Following Rahman's release, the BCB convened an emergency board meeting and has also approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking the relocation of Bangladesh's matches in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup from India, citing safety and security concerns.

India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to co-host the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, with matches slated across multiple venues in both countries.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good on her for clearing the air. The media loves to spin narratives. It was a personal choice, end of story. The bigger issue is Bangladesh's reaction. Suspending IPL broadcast? Approaching ICC to move matches? That's a serious overreaction.
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Aman W
While I support her decision, I wish she had been more specific. "Nation comes first" is a bit vague. Is it about the political tension, or something else? A little more transparency would have helped fans understand better. Just my two paise.
S
Sarah B
This is getting complicated. As a cricket fan, it's sad to see. The BCCI released a player, BCB gets upset and bans our league, now an Indian presenter opts out of theirs. Where does it end? We need cooler heads to prevail for the sake of the sport.
K
Karthik V
BCB talking about "safety concerns" for 2026 is pure drama. India hosts millions of fans safely every IPL season. This feels like a pressure tactic after the Mustafizur issue. Ridhima probably saw the writing on the wall and made a smart exit. 🤷‍♂️
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Nisha Z
Her statement is very dignified. "Cricket deserves truth." Absolutely. Let's not mix sports with politics. Bangladeshi fans love the IPL, and Indian fans enjoy their players in BPL. These boards need to sort their issues behind closed doors.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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