Indian Presenter Ridhima Pathak Dropped from BPL Amid Rising Bangladesh-India Tensions

Indian television presenter Ridhima Pathak has been removed from the hosting panel of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 tournament by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Her role was part of the BPL’s broadcast and presentation lineup, where she had been co-hosting alongside Pakistani presenter Zainab Abbas and working with an international commentary team. 

The decision came amid escalating political tensions between Bangladesh and India, which intensified following the removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from his Indian Premier League (IPL) team, sparking a diplomatic and sporting dispute.

In the wake of these developments, the BCB held discussions and decided to drop Ridhima Pathak from the BPL broadcast panel, citing concerns linked to the wider situation. 

The move is seen in the context of strained bilateral relations that have affected cricketing ties, including Bangladesh’s ban on IPL broadcasts and calls from authorities to relocate Bangladesh’s scheduled T20 World Cup matches out of India.

The absence of the Indian presenter in the BPL is part of a series of actions reflecting the deepening impact of geopolitical tensions on regional sports collaborations.