Sport Presenter Ridhima Pathak Breaks Silence on BPL Exit

Following allegations that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally withdrew Indian presenter Ridhima Pathak from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), sports relations between Bangladesh and India have drastically declined. This action is seen as the most recent fallout from the two countries' fast-intensifying diplomatic and athletic feud. Pathak, a well-known personality in Indian sports media, has denied these rumours, claiming that she left the T20 league on her own volition because of the political situation.

The event was widely perceived as an additional result of the two nations' growing diplomatic and athletic tensions. Pathak, however, has refuted these allegations, stating that she made the decision to leave the T20 league on her own volition and blaming the current political environment.

Official Statement of Ridhima Pathak:

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Taking it to her official Instagram handle, she said, "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. 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."

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allegedly ordered the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to remove Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their roster on January 3, the conflict escalated. In reaction to this ruling, the government of Bangladesh declared that the Indian Premier League (IPL) would not be televised nationwide and insisted that the T20 World Cup matches be moved to Sri Lanka.

The BCB's attempt to move its T20 World Cup matches to Sri Lanka has been severely hampered by the ongoing conflict between Bangladesh and India. Uncertainty surrounds Bangladeshi golfers competing in the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), and the ICC has ordered Bangladesh to play in India or face losing their matches.

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