印度板球：即将举行的选举的政治战场

印度的板球运动已与政治纠缠在一起，有人指控执政的印度人民党利用其受欢迎程度来获取选举优势。印度人民党与印度板球控制委员会（BCCI）的密切关系引发了人们对政府干预这项运动的担忧，批评者指责该党利用板球作为政治工具来增强其权力。

Cricket in India: A Politically Charged Game

印度板球：一项充满政治色彩的运动

In the upcoming six-week-long general elections in India, cricket, a beloved sport, has become intertwined with political agendas, raising concerns about its exploitation for electoral advantage.

在印度即将举行的为期六周的大选中，板球这项深受喜爱的运动已与政治议程交织在一起，引发了人们对板球被利用来获取选举优势的担忧。

BJP's Dominance and Control

印度人民党的统治和控制

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has established a close relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Critics allege that the BJP has sought to co-opt cricket as a tool to outmaneuver political opponents.

由总理纳伦德拉·莫迪领导的执政党印度人民党 (BJP) 与印度板球控制委员会 (BCCI) 建立了密切的关系。批评者称，印度人民党试图利用板球作为战胜政治对手的工具。

"The sport is used as a vehicle for a muscular nationalism," opined veteran cricket journalist Sharda Ugra. "Control is exercised not only through the presence of senior officials connected to the ruling party but also through the strategic use of Indian cricket to convey political messages."

“这项运动被用作强健民族主义的载体，”资深板球记者沙达·尤格拉（Sharda Ugra）表示。 “控制不仅通过与执政党有联系的高级官员的存在来实施，还通过战略性地利用印度板球来传达政治信息。”

Political Ties and Influence

政治联系和影响力

Connections between the BJP and the BCCI run deep. BCCI chief Jay Shah is the son of Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah, Modi's right-hand man. Arun Dhumal, chairman of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), is the brother of Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, another former BCCI head.

印度人民党和 BCCI 之间的联系根深蒂固。 BCCI 主席杰伊·沙阿 (Jay Shah) 是莫迪的得力助手、内政部长阿米特·沙阿 (Amit Shah) 的儿子。阿伦·杜马尔 (Arun Dhumal) 是利润丰厚的印度超级联赛 (IPL) 主席，他是 BCCI 前任主席、体育部长阿努拉格·塔库尔 (Anurag Thakur) 的兄弟。

"The current BCCI is the first Indian cricketing administration wholly controlled by a single political party, not merely a group of politicians," Ugra remarked.

尤格拉表示：“现任 BCCI 是印度第一个完全由单一政党控制的板球管理机构，而不仅仅是一群政客。”

Exploitation and Interference

剥削和干扰

Critics like Gideon Haigh, a cricket writer for The Australian newspaper, have condemned the BJP's "shameless self-interest" in using cricket to further its political ambitions. "Cricket is just one of many institutions it has captured, though it is the most meaningful to the most people," Haigh said.

《澳大利亚人报》的板球作家吉迪恩·黑格等批评者谴责印度人民党利用板球来推进其政治野心的“无耻的私利”。 “板球运动只是它所占领的众多机构之一，尽管它对大多数人来说是最有意义的，”黑格说。

The BJP's influence extends beyond appointments. In December 2022, following the BJP's victory in Rajasthan state elections, a minister's son assumed control of the state cricket board. In New Delhi, the capital's renowned stadium was renamed in 2019 after a deceased BJP stalwart, Arun Jaitley, whose son now heads the Delhi cricket board.

印度人民党的影响力不仅仅局限于任命。 2022 年 12 月，印度人民党在拉贾斯坦邦选举中获胜后，一位部长的儿子接管了邦板球委员会。在新德里，这座首都著名的体育场于 2019 年以已故印度人民党坚定支持者阿伦·贾特利 (Arun Jaitley) 的名字重新命名，他的儿子现在担任德里板球委员会主席。

Symbolic Gestures and Political Messaging

象征性手势和政治信息

During the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Modi's presence at the final in the world's largest cricket stadium, named after him, was seen as a symbolic gesture. A home victory would have undoubtedly bolstered national pride ahead of the elections, but India's loss did not diminish Modi's post-match visit to the dressing room to embrace the team.

2023 年印度 ODI 世界杯期间，莫迪出现在以他的名字命名的世界上最大板球场的决赛中，被视为一种象征性姿态。主场胜利无疑会在选举前增强民族自豪感，但印度的失败并没有削弱莫迪赛后前往更衣室拥抱球队的热情。

His message, captured by cameras, was "It happens... Keep smiling, the country is looking up to you."

他的信息被摄像机捕捉到，“它发生了......保持微笑，这个国家正在仰望你。”

Visa Challenges and International Concerns

签证挑战和国际担忧

Concerns have also been raised regarding India's denial or delay of visas for Pakistani players and fans during the tournament. Other players with Pakistani heritage have faced similar visa issues during India tours. The BCCI remained unresponsive to requests for comment from AFP.

人们还对印度在比赛期间拒绝或延迟向巴基斯坦球员和球迷发放签证表示担忧。其他具有巴基斯坦血统的球员在印度之旅期间也面临着类似的签证问题。 BCCI 仍未回应法新社的置评请求。

Financial Power and Global Influence

金融实力和全球影响力

Cricket is a highly lucrative business in India, with an estimated revenue surpassing Bollywood's. The IPL is the world's wealthiest cricket league, and the BCCI's enormous wealth and reach allow it to exert influence within the sport's global governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).

板球在印度是一项利润丰厚的行业，估计收入超过宝莱坞。 IPL 是世界上最富有的板球联赛，BCCI 的巨大财富和影响力使其能够在这项运动的全球管理机构国际板球理事会 (ICC) 中发挥影响力。

According to a 2018 ICC study, over 90% of cricket's global fanbase resides in the Indian subcontinent. Despite rules prohibiting government interference in cricket boards' operations, the ICC has remained silent on India's actions.

根据 2018 年国际板球联合会的一项研究，全球板球球迷 90% 以上居住在印度次大陆。尽管规则禁止政府干预板球委员会的运作，但国际刑事法院对印度的行为保持沉默。

Capture of the ICC

占领ICC

Modi's inauguration of the eponymous 132,000-seater stadium in Ahmedabad in 2020 was attended by then-US President Donald Trump. The ICC's failure to address this blatant political display at a cricketing event has raised questions about its independence from the BCCI.

2020 年，时任美国总统唐纳德·特朗普出席了莫迪在艾哈迈达巴德为拥有 132,000 个座位的同名体育场举行的落成典礼。国际刑事法院未能解决板球赛事中这种公然的政治表现，引发了人们对其独立于 BCCI 的质疑。

Local Sentiment and Public Image

当地情绪和公众形象

Despite the political controversies, cricket remains a beloved sport in India, capturing the hearts and minds of millions. The BJP's efforts to align itself with cricket may resonate with some voters, who see it as a symbol of national pride and unity. However, critics warn that the exploitation of cricket for political gain ultimately undermines the integrity and spirit of the game.

尽管存在政治争议，板球仍然是印度一项深受喜爱的运动，俘获了数百万人的心。印度人民党与板球运动结盟的努力可能会引起一些选民的共鸣，他们将板球视为民族自豪感和团结的象征。然而，批评者警告说，利用板球运动获取政治利益最终会破坏这项运动的完整性和精神。