Sports presenter chooses country over career during India Bangladesh row
Indian sports broadcaster Ridhima Pathak has stepped forward to clear the air regarding her departure from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). While some rumors suggested that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had removed her from the panel, Pathak stated firmly that the decision was entirely hers. She explained that she chose to step away from the tournament to prioritize her national identity during a period of growing friction between the cricket boards of India and Bangladesh.
Pathak's announcement comes at a sensitive time for the sport in South Asia. She emphasized that while she has spent years serving the game with passion, her loyalty to her nation remains her top priority. Her exit coincides with a series of retaliatory moves between the two countries. The core of the issue began when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi star Mustafizur Rahman. KKR had originally bought the pacer for a staggering ₹9.2 crore, but he was let go following concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.
The fallout from Mustafizur's release has been swift. In response, the Bangladesh government has officially banned the broadcast of the upcoming IPL 2026 season within its borders. Furthermore, the BCB expressed deep concerns about sending its national team to India for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to start on February 7. Although the BCB requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their matches to Sri Lanka, the governing body rejected the appeal, insisting that no genuine security threat exists in India.
Through her statement, Pathak aimed to bring clarity to her situation and distance herself from the political narrative of being "dropped." By walking away from her BPL assignment, she has signaled a strong stance on professional integrity and national pride. Meanwhile, Mustafizur Rahman has already shifted his focus to the Pakistan Super League, as the cricketing relationship between India and Bangladesh continues to face significant challenges.
