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2023 ICC World Cup: Where Cricket Encounters Politics
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A Glimpse into the Convergence of Sport and Politics on the Global Stage
Through the inauguration of the 2023 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in India, pundits and specialists are highlighting the unmistakable blending of politics and cricket in this extravagant sports event.
Concerns have been raised regarding India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) utilizing the tournament as a platform to amplify its political influence and pave the way for a potential third term in power, with controversial decisions surrounding stadium names, venue selection, and broader issues associated with vilification.
In a remarkable event in March, just prior to the India vs. Australia Test match at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, which was named to honor India’s current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a procession took place to celebrate 75 years of India-Australia cricket. Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese made a lap around the stadium in a golf cart designed to resemble a golden chariot. This grand spectacle, accompanied by speeches and performances, provided a glimpse of the political aspect that the ICC World Cup may bring to the foreground.
Despite India’s formidable cricketing prowess, the nation has not secured a World Cup victory in 12 years, intensifying their desire to succeed this time. Some argue that the BJP is utilizing various elements of the tournament, including stadium names and venue choices, as a means to advance its political agenda.
Mukul Kesavan, a historian and cricket enthusiast, suggests that this World Cup is “more politicized” compared to previous editions, considering India’s propensity to transform sporting events into self-celebrations with an eye on upcoming elections.
Suresh Menon, a columnist and writer, anticipates that the World Cup could serve as an “extended election campaign” for the BJP, potentially overshadowing star players and becoming known as the “BJP’s World Cup.”
#Chepauk Ready for #India‘s opener against #Australia with the #CWC2023 hoarding boards. Time for action on October 8th. #Chennai
#icccricketworldcup2023VC: Kalidas Singam pic.twitter.com/Av5LECk8B3
— Saai Krishna (@SaaiKrishna2002) October 5, 2023
The BJP’s influence in cricket administration is prominently channeled through Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the son of India’s influential Home Minister, Amit Shah. While the involvement of a politician in cricket administration is not inherently problematic, concerns arise when the sport is perceived as a tool for political purposes.
The BCCI, although not the official organizer of the World Cup, holds significant sway over the event’s decisions. Every move, ranging from scheduling to venue choices, is being closely examined from a political standpoint.
The decision to exclude matches in Mohali, a city with a rich history of World Cup matches, is seen by some as a political maneuver against the state of Punjab, which voted for a BJP rival in recent state elections.
While the ICC remains the official organizer, the interplay between politics and cricket in this year’s World Cup is impossible to overlook, marking a captivating chapter in the realm of sports and politics.
