The reports have arrived that the Indian presenter, Ridhiman Pathak, has been removed from the presentation panel for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on January 07, 2026, citing sources in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). She was expected to host the Dhaka leg of the year’s event but was reportedly dropped from the team before arriving in the country.

The current edition of the competition has already started in Sylhet. Pathak, however, a prominent figure in Indian sports broadcasting, refused all those reports and clarified that she herself withdrew from the T20 event due to the ongoing political climate. But she directly clarified the rumours.

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“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.” Pathak expressed on her social media.

Ridhiman Pathak reacts to BPL 2025/26 controversy

The Pakistani presenter, Zainab Abbas, arrived in Bangladesh, along with the veteran commentators- Waqar Younis, Ramiz Raja, and Darren Gough. Ridhiman was originally set to join them, but will no longer be attending. The BPL authorities have introduced major changes to the presentation and the commentary panels in the season.

“That won’t change. I will 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.” Pathak reflected on the entire situation.

On January 05, the Bangladesh government suspended the broadcast of the IPL 2026 matches in the country after the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release their left-arm pacer, Mustafizur Rahman, from their squad. The league is going to begin on March 26, following KKR’s decision to remove the bowler. Bangladesh’s response has requested the ICC to relocate its T20 World Cup 2026 games out of India.

The 15th match of  BPL 2025-26 between the Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express will take place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet on Tuesday. Both Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express are struggling in this tournament and are currently occupying the bottom half positions in the points table.

The Dhaka Capitals lost their previous match by five runs against the Rangpur Riders, failing to chase down the target of 155 runs, while Noakhali Express lost their previous match by six wickets against the Sylhet Titans.

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DHCP vs NOE Match Details

• Match: Dhaka Capitals vs Noakhali Express, 15th Match 

• Date: 7th January 2026

• Time: 12.30 PM IST

• Venue: Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet 

• Live Streaming: FanCode

DHCP vs NOE Weather Report

DHCP vs NOE Pitch Report

Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has a reputation for offering a dry and sluggish pitch that benefits spin bowlers from the very first over.

Top Batters to Watch – DHCP vs NOE

• Shamim Hossain (DHCP): 113 runs in BPL

• Mahidul Islam (NOE): 113 runs in BPL

• Mohammad Mithun (DHCP): 76 runs in BPL

Top Bowlers to Watch – DHCP vs NOE

• Zahir Khan (NOE): 6 wickets in BPL

• Hasan Mahmud (NOE): 5 wickets in BPL

• Imad Wasim (DHCP): 4 wickets in BPL

DHCP vs NOE Recent Form

DHCP vs NOE Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If NOE Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 35–40

• Predicted Total: 125–135

• Match Result: DHCP to win

Scenario 2: If DHCP Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 145–150

• Match Result: DHCP to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

DHCP vs NOE Predicted Playing XIs

Dhaka Capitals 

Saif Hassan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Abdullah Al Mamun, Mohammad Mithun(c), Shamim Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

Noakhali Express 

Soumya Sarkar, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Mahidul Islam Ankon(w), Haider Ali(c), Mohammad Nabi, Munim Shahriar, Hasan Mahmud, Bilal Sami, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Zahir Khan, Abu Jayed

DHCP vs NOE Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior bowling strength, the Dhaka Capitals are the favourites to win this BPL match. Shamim Hossain, Sabbir Rahman and Saif Hassan are expected to be the key performers.

DHCP vs NOE Match FAQs

The opening match of  BPL 2025-26 between the Sylhet Titans and Rajshahi Warriors will take place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet on Friday. Sylhet Titans had a rough ride last season, finishing at the bottom after winning only two out of 12 matches. Their goal this time is to break into the top four and advance further in the competition.

Rajshahi Warriors failed to make a mark last year, ending in fifth place with six wins and six defeats from 12 matches. Their squad has been slightly restructured with the goal of delivering a stronger performance this year.

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SYT vs RWR Match Details

• Match: Sylhet Titans vs Rajshahi Warriors, 1st Match 

• Date: 26th December 2025

• Time: 2.30 PM IST

• Venue: Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet 

• Live Streaming: FanCode

SYT vs RWR Weather Report

SYT vs RWR Pitch Report

Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has a reputation for offering a dry and sluggish pitch that benefits spin bowlers from the very first over.

Top Batters to Watch – SYT vs RWR

• Mushfiqur Rahim (RWR): 3446 runs in BPL

• Yasir Ali (RWR): 1364 runs in BPL

• Rony Talukdar (SYT): 1609 runs in BPL

Top Bowlers to Watch – SYT vs RWR

• Mehidy Hasan Miraz (SYT): 78 wickets in BPL

• Billy Stanlake (SYT): 48 wickets in BPL

• Tanzim Hasan Sakib (RWR): 35 wickets in BPL

SYT vs RWR Recent Form

SYT vs RWR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If SYT Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 140–150

• Match Result: RWR to win

Scenario 2: If RWR Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–50

• Predicted Total: 155–170

• Match Result: RWR to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

SYT vs RWR Predicted Playing XIs

Sylhet Titans 

Saim Ayub, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Rony Talukdar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Moeen Ali, Mohammad Amir, Ruyel Miah, Nasum Ahmed, Ariful Islam, Azmatullah Omarzai

Rajshahi Warriors 

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Yasir Ali, Akbar Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Hussain Talat, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Ripon Mondol, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Murad

SYT vs RWR Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior bowling strength, the Rajshahi Warriors are the favourites to win this BPL match. Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tanzid Hasan are expected to be the key performers.

SYT vs RWR Match FAQs

The upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Draft has been postponed officially, and the organizers have stated that the draft will not take place until after October. The delay is a result of all prior franchise agreements expiring when the last BPL season concluded. With a fresh start on the horizon, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is taking steps to reform the league's structure and ownership model.

Newly appointed BPL Governing Council Chairman Mahbub Anam confirmed the changes during a media interaction, citing that the board is planning to invite fresh Expressions of Interest (EOI) for team ownership. These new franchise contracts will be awarded for a five-year term. In the meantime, the BCB is also studying how global franchise leagues operate in order to implement improvements that enhance the BPL’s efficiency and competitiveness.

“We are hoping that in August we will be starting the process of taking in new franchises. In September we have a schedule to appoint these new franchises... I believe the draft will not take place before October. If we can complete our schedules, then in October we can go for a draft,” Mahbub Anam said, as quoted by The Daily Star. The BPL Draft date, therefore, remains tentative and will only be confirmed after the necessary franchise allocations are completed.

BCB to Bring in Sports Management Firm for Restructuring

In a bid to professionalize the BPL further, Mahbub also revealed plans to hire a dedicated sports management company. “We are also studying how the different franchise tournaments are being run... We will go to a tender process for an event management or sports management company. They will give us direction and structure our financial model so that it's sustainable,” he added.

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Simultaneously, the BCB will audit venues such as Bogura and Khulna to determine their readiness for BPL matches. Their inclusion in the upcoming season will depend on meeting the required standards, which will be evaluated in coordination with the National Sports Council (NSC).