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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Stumps and Sovereignty: South Asian Cricket from Empire to the Digital Age by Sufghan Sarwar Khan traces cricket’s evolution from its rural English origins to its establishment in South Asia, where colonial trade started early play in India. Indian participation expanded through local clubs, while the Partition prompted Pakistan to build a national cricketing structure, producing notable players who shaped early Test performances. Khan shows how leadership, player development, and innovations in technique and strategy influenced regional success, with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan gradually gaining international recognition. He talks about how twenty-first-century cricket has integrated technology, digital platforms, and global markets, and how serious environmental and economic pressures have influenced sustainability measures, positioning cricket as a sport responsive to social, political, and tech changes.
Stumps and Sovereignty by Sufghan Sarwar Khan is a really interesting look at the history and progression of cricket, with a meticulously researched deep dive that shows a transition where innovation, strategy, and culture coexist. Writing primarily in a highly academic style, Sufghan Sarwar Khan forms an intelligently formatted arc, and while the history is of massive importance in the sport's story, I actually found the forward-facing look to the future to be the best bits. Technology aside, the economics and commercialization of play are clear indicators of cricket's financial power, and I love that Khan leans into the rise of women’s leagues in what continues to be a male-dominated field. I am from a country where cricket is still little more than an outlier, but it is gaining some traction, which is exciting. Having since moved to England, where it is huge, learning of South Asia's ascent from colonial roots into a powerhouse region of teams is a testament to the strength and resilience of both the people and the region. Very highly recommended.
