This is the first book to shed light on the nuanced relationship between sports, cultural identity, and masculinity by examining the experiences of Afghan and Pakistani men athletes, within their respective regions and abroad.
The book draws on various socio-cultural frameworks, such as decolonization theory, to dissect power dynamics, critique the influence of neoliberal policies in contemporary South Asian societies, and unpack the concept of masculinity by challenging widespread yet often unexamined beliefs. Presenting important new material on sports including cricket and traditional sports like buzkashi, the book investigates the far-reaching impact of key geopolitical events, such as the fall of Kabul in 2021, in order to understand how these pivotal moments reshape the landscape of sports in these countries, from participation rates to the meaning and experience of athletic pursuits, especially for those who have migrated or are considering migration. It also offers a critical analysis of how Western media narratives often oversimplify and homogenize the representations of Pakistani and Afghan athletes, and challenges stereotypes that contribute to systemic issues such as inequities and violence against Afghan and Pakistani athletes in the Global North and against Afghan athletes in Pakistan.
Going beyond conventional discussions by examining sports as not only a cultural but also a geopolitical battleground, this book is essential reading for any advanced student, researcher or policy-maker with an interest in the sociology of sport, post-colonial studies, anthropology, religious studies, security studies, migration, or South Asian studies.
Table of Contents:
Part I: The Intersection of Politics, Culture, and Sports in Afghanistan and Pakistan 1. Introduction: Sports in Afghanistan and Pakistan after the Unannounced End of the Global War on Terrorism 2. Historical Landscape of Sports in Afghanistan and Pakistan 3. Sport Under Taliban Rule: The Fall of Kabul (2021), Human Rights, and Afghanistan–Pakistan Cricket Politics 4. The Rise and Fall of Imran Khan and Its Enduring Impact on Sports in the Indian Subcontinent Part II: Transnational Movements and the Athlete Diaspora 5. Athlete Migration and Sport Diaspora: Afghan and Pakistani Pathways Across the Global North and South 6. Afghan Refugee Athletes in Islamabad, Pakistan 7. Afghan and Pakistani Athletes’ Migration in the Arab World: Unique Lived Experiences of Athletes in Qatar 8. Afghan and Pakistani Athletes’ Migration in Europe: Media Framing and Western Discourse 9. Afghan and Pakistani Athletes’ Migration in the US: An Auto–Ethnographic Study Part III: Sport as a Mirror of Sociopolitical Realities and Identity 10. Sport as a Geopolitical Battleground: Pakistani Sports Under Pakistan Junta’s Control 11.South Asian Muslim Men, Masculinity, and Sport 12. Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?
