Horseback riders, or
chapandazan, battle for control of a goat carcass during a
buzkashi match in Dawlatabad, Afghanistan, on March 16, 2017. The former Taliban regime enforced a ban on buzkashi, and recent Taliban gains have shut down matches in the area.
When Khaibar Akbarzada enters the arena, a groundswell of murmurs and shouts arise from fans who instantly recognise his hulking frame and all-black uniform, emblazoned with a white number 7. In one forceful motion, the young contender swings up onto a horse and bolts into action.
It’s a Friday in early December 2020, and he’s playing the ancient game of