In a departure from recent trends, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was seen exchanging a friendly handshake with Pakistani fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani during the Abu Dhabi T10 League on Wednesday, November 19. The moment occurred shortly after Singh's team, the Aspin Stallions, suffered a narrow four-run defeat to the Northern Warriors at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The brief exchange, which included smiles and pleasantries, gained significance given the strained relationship between Indian and Pakistani cricket teams. Following the Pahalgam attack earlier in the year, which heightened cross-border tensions, players from both nations have largely avoided the customary post-match handshakes. This tension had manifested in various tournaments, with Indian men's, women's, and age-group teams skipping the traditional gesture.
Harbhajan Singh himself had previously taken a firm stance on the matter. Earlier in 2025, he, along with other former Indian stars like Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and the Pathan brothers, withdrew from a World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan, citing national sentiment. This boycott led to India Champions forfeiting the semi-final.
However, Wednesday's interaction presented a contrasting scene. Dahani, who delivered a match-winning spell of 2 for 10, approached Harbhajan after the final ball, and the Aspin Stallions captain responded with a handshake and a brief conversation. In the match, Harbhajan bowled a single over for eight runs before being run out for one while batting. Dahani was named Player of the Match for his performance. The Northern Warriors scored 114 for one. The Stallions fell short at 110 for seven.
The handshake between the two cricketers quickly drew attention on social media, with reactions ranging from praise for the sportsmanship displayed to criticism of Harbhajan Singh for perceived inconsistency. Some fans lauded the gesture as a symbol of cricket transcending political tensions. Others pointed out Singh's earlier refusal to play against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends.
The incident also brought to mind other instances where handshakes between Indian and Pakistani teams were avoided. This included the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 clash between India 'A' and Pakistan Shaheens, where captains Jitesh Sharma and Irfan Niazi skipped the customary handshake. A similar situation occurred at the ICC Women's World Cup 2025.
Despite the controversies, the handshake between Harbhajan Singh and Shahnawaz Dahani remains a notable moment of camaraderie in a tense environment. It serves as a reminder of the potential for sportsmanship to bridge divides, even when diplomatic relations are strained.
