Handshake Highlights Friendship in Tense Times
In a surprising moment at the Abu Dhabi T10 League, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh shared a friendly handshake with Pakistan’s Shahnawaz Dahani. This exchange took place after their match on November 19, 2025, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, where Harbhajan captained the Aspin Stallions.
This handshake is significant, especially given the current chilly relations between India and Pakistan, which have been affected by recent events, including the Pahalgam attack earlier this year. Following that incident, Indian cricket teams have mostly avoided handshakes with Pakistani players in a show of solidarity.
Earlier this year, Harbhajan, along with other cricket greats like Shikhar Dhawan and the Pathan brothers, decided not to participate in the World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan due to national sentiments. Their decision created a stir, leading to India’s Champions team forfeiting the semi-final, which allowed Pakistan to progress to the final.
A Shift in the Norm
The trend of avoiding handshakes started during the Asia Cup when Suryakumar Yadav’s team elected not to shake hands with Salman Agha’s side. This continued in the Women’s World Cup as well, where Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana also skipped handshakes during their encounters in Colombo and Doha.
However, there was a positive moment recently during the Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind on November 16, where players from both teams shook hands after the match in Sri Lanka. India secured a significant victory, and both teams, who had traveled together, congratulated each other, showing a spirit of sportsmanship. Pakistan captain Nimra Rafique recognized India’s win, while Indian captain Deepika complimented Pakistan’s efforts.
In the T10 League match, the Northern Warriors narrowly edged out the Aspin Stallions by four runs. The Warriors scored 114 runs and managed to defend it as the Stallions ended up with 110 runs. Dahani was exceptional in this game, taking two important wickets for only 10 runs, which earned him the Player of the Match title. Harbhajan bowled well, giving away just eight runs in his over but was run out for a single run.
As the cricketing community watches closely, this handshake stands as a beacon of hope for better relations between the two nations through the love of the game.
