Post by Birkbeck Sport Business Centre

“In a colonial context, how can you have equality on the sporting field when you are in a fundamentally unequal society?”   This question was central to the panel discussion on Cricket's New Imperialism, hosted by the Birkbeck Sport Business Centre on Monday 22 June.    The discussion was led by Guardian columnist and sportswriter Emma John, University of Leicester Professor Prashant Kidambi, former cricketer and broadcaster and author Simon Hughes, and Guardian writer and broadcaster Geoff Lemon. From the role of sport in colonial history to the evolution of Indian cricket, a central theme of the discussion was how cricket has developed from an English “colonial sport” to a symbolic and political force within Indian culture.    For India, cricket is more than a pastime or source of friendly competition. It has played a large role in establishing the country’s sport presence on a global scale and is still deeply entwined with Indian and global political structures.   As Emma John put it, “Cricket was shaped by empire, and empire was shaped by cricket.” That reciprocal relationship shaped much of the conversation, from the role of cricket in colonial societies to the popularity surge of the sport through telecasting, and the modern individualisation of the game through the media.   The discussion was followed by an engaging audience Q&A session, opening further exploration of cricket’s history, identity, and global legacy. A brilliant discussion that showed how cricket may be played on a field, but also how its meaning has always stretched far beyond the boundary.