In the turmoil of Afghanistan's past and present, there is one small ray of hope: the Afghan Cricket Team. Their journey is not just a sporting saga but could also serve as a testament to resilience, shared dreams, and the unifying power of sport. But is it also future-proof?
Something extraordinary happened during Christmas 1914 in the freezing trenches of World War I: British and German soldiers, tired and worn-out, putting aside their guns for exchanging messages, sharing gifts, taking photos – and even playing a spontaneous football game. A brief pause in the madness of war, a moment when the joy of the game triumphed over conflict. In that frozen landscape, the simplicity of a football brought enemies together, if only for a while.
Fast forward 109 years: Today, international organizations play a crucial role in purposefully incorporating peacekeeping and sport into their work. See e.g. UNESCOs “International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport” which in its original version says: “Through co-operation and the pursuit of mutual interests in the universal language of physical education and sport, all peoples will contribute to the preservation of lasting peace, mutual respect and friendship and will thus create a propitious climate for solving international problems.”
Sport as a universal language with an unparalleled ability to bring people together – this not just sounds abstract but is first and foremost theoretical. So, taking that and not just bringing it into the present but also asking into the future: What are the preconditions of success of sports-based peaceinterventions? How can sport serve as an “icebreaker” between parties in conflict and open channels of communication that have remained closed due to a crisis? And, in a constantly changing world, are there maybe "new sports" needed to achieve this?
First: simplifying sports as a standalone solution would be way too easy. “There's the need for a comprehensive strategy, where sports acts as one piece of a larger peace-building puzzle”, says Alexander Cardenas, PhD in peace, conflict, and development studies. Drawing on his research in conflict ridden areas like Colombia and Northern Ireland, he advocates for sports programs to be integrated into broader peace-building frameworks. “It's not just about the game”, he adds, “it's about understanding the entire sociocultural landscape, ensuring that sports become a harmonious element in the complex composition of peace.”
“There's the need for a comprehensive strategy, where sports acts as one piece of a larger peace-building puzzle”
Alexander Cardenas
So, let’s take cricket and let’s take it to Afghanistan, where the socio-cultural landscape is not just fragmented, it is fractured: “Our generation, firsthand witnesses to the impact of conflict, grew up with a sense of purpose amid adversity”, says Shafiq Stanikzai, Chief Executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board from 2014 to 2019. “From assembling Kalashnikovs to stories of bravery, the environment shaped us from a young age.” It was cricket, that, as he recounts, “became a beacon of hope” in the country.
“Cricket instilled hope not just in individuals but in the entire nation. It became a symbol of resilience and optimism in the face of obstacles.” Before, it faced societal resistance and was considered a foreign sport. “Even abroad, we were labeled as terrorists”, Stanikzai recalls. Overcoming thesechallenges required not only success on the cricket field but also changing deep-seated perceptions and prejudices.
Indeed, sport is deeply entwined with cultural norms, and any peace-building initiative must be acutely aware of these subtleties. The success of a sports program hinges on its ability to resonate with the community's existing understanding of sports and physical activity in general. According toAlexander Cardenas: “It's a call for sensitivity – recognizing that the way a game is played in one community may differ drastically from another – each program aligns with, and respects, the unique cultural context of each community it seeks to engage.”
For any sport organization, societal acceptance is crucial, and cricket achieved it in Afghanistan. It transcended ethnic and cultural divides, bringing together a nation that had been torn by conflict for years: “It stands as a powerful tool for peacebuilding”, says Moska Najibullah, writer, visual storyteller, activist, and daughter of former Afghan president Mohammad Najibullah. “In Afghanistan, cricket has the potential to bridge divides, mend wounds, and contribute to a collective sense of national identity”.
But while cricket has achieved remarkable success in Afghanistan, significant hurdles persist, especially for female athletes. Societal norms, coupled with the perceived risks of a career in sports, hinder the full participation of women in the country's sports landscape. “The question remains: How canwe break these barriers and provide equal opportunities for our talented female athletes”, Najibullah asks.
The answer requires sport programs dedicated to contributing tomanagement and conflict resolution that must carefully consider several key aspects during both the planning and implementation phases: beneath the sensitivity to the socio-cultural context, the inclusivity as a paramount requirement or the local empowerment to avoid a “parachuting” mentality.
“Furthermore, the informed consent of participants and not just of their political representatives is essential to the success of a sports program that aims to contribute effectively to peacebuilding”, states the International Platform on Sport and Development. Plus: activities should promote mutual acceptance and tolerance, utilizing direct physical contact to foster intensive relationships.
“It's not just about cricket; it's about challenging our limited ways of thinking, especially in the context of a nation that refuses to let war define its identity.”
Moska Najibullah
Again: this might sound great on paper, but how to implement it on the ground, introducing for example a newly designed sport, especially for a country like Afghanistan? “If I would implement a new sport in Afghanistan, I'd let the community and its individuals co-guide the process”, Cardenas says. Meaning: allow the participants to negotiate the rules themselves, they couldgo beyond simply counting goals and consider opportunities forsportsmanship. “Scoring a goal is significant, but helping an opponent to stand up is even better.”
Another idea would be to require that, to earn the first point, everybody on the field or in the game must be in contact with one another or touch the ball at least once, he proposes. “And I would always link the game and its success to the learning outcomes. The game should facilitate participants in learningsomething valuable, peaceful, conflict-sensitive - it's not merely about playing; it's about creating an environment that welcomes everyone”.
From infrastructure accessibility to scheduling: logistics is and was key, the former ACB-CEO, Shafiq Stanikzai adds: “To make cricket thrive, the planning was essential. We focused on regions where cricket was weaker, convincing the government to build infrastructure. We utilized broadcasting rights toreach wider audiences, making cricket the number one sport. The success story of Afghan cricket is a testament to the power of careful planning and execution.”
Then, cricket in Afghanistan, or a future sport in another conflict region, might have the “elasticity” to transform mindsets. The national team's journey underscores the potential for evolution and change, its success story in Afghanistan reflects a departure from traditional mentalities.Yes, the team with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who has emerged as Afghanistan's greatest opening batsman, might have greatly performed during the World Cup 2023.
But also, far beyond points and top rankings, says Moska Najibullah: “It's not just about cricket; it's about challenging our limited ways of thinking, especially in the context of a nation that refuses to let war define its identity.”
Something extraordinary happened during Christmas 1914 in the freezing trenches of World War I: British and German soldiers, tired and worn-out, putting aside their guns for exchanging messages, sharing gifts, taking photos – and even playing a spontaneous football game. A brief pause in the madness of war, a moment when the joy of the game triumphed over conflict. In that frozen landscape, the simplicity of a football brought enemies together, if only for a while.
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