ABSTRACT
This book chapter investigates Imran Khan’s rise and fall by analyzing his significant impact not only on Pakistan’s sporting and political landscape but also across South Asia. Moreover, the extensive historical record of romance between sports and politics in the subcontinent underlines the broader context within which Imran Khan’s subsequent political ascension unfolded and can be unraveled through various theoretical viewpoints. Also addressed is the impact of Imran Khan’s governmental structural reforms on Pakistan’s sporting institutions. Therefore, this chapter offers not only an understanding of the case of Imran Khan in the sporting-political context but also of the unique sociopolitical background that shaped overall sporting consumption and governance in Pakistan. These facts, viewed via the lens of social reproduction theory, help to develop the Capital Conversion Continuum of the Athlete-to-Politician Transition model in the Indian subcontinent context. The continuum illustrates how athletes convert sporting capital into political power through identity advocacy, nationalism, and elite privilege.
