Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh shakes hands with Pakistan bowler Shahnawaz Dahani during the Abu Dhabi T10 League. The Aspin Stallions captain exchanged pleasantries with Dahani after his team’s match against the Northern Warriors on Wednesday, November 19 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The handshake is notable amid strained India-Pakistan relations following the Pahalgam attack earlier this year. Since then, Indian cricket teams, including the senior men’s and women’s teams, have largely avoided shaking hands with Pakistani players.
Earlier in 2025, Harbhajan along with former stars Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf and Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina, he refused to play against Pakistan at the World Championship of Legends. Citing national sentiment, they said “blood and sweat cannot co-exist” under tense political conditions. Their boycott resulted in champions India losing in the semi-finals and allowing Pakistan to advance to the final. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi T10 League
THE HANDSHAKE SAGA
The trend of avoiding handshakes started during the Asia Cup when India’s Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Salman Agha’s Pakistan. It continued in the Women’s World Cup when Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana maintained a handshake in Colombo and again during the Rising Stars Asia Cup match in Doha.
However, players from both sides did shake hands after their match at the Blind Women’s World Cup T20 November 16 at the BOI Cricket Stadium in Katunayake, Sri Lanka. India won by a landslide and the teams traveling together in the same bus exchanged brief congratulations. Pakistan captain Nimra Rafique acknowledged India’s win while India captain Deepika praised Pakistan for their efforts.
In the T10 League clash, Northern Warriors narrowly beat Aspin Stallions by four runs, posting 114 for one and defending it as Stallions failed to reach 110 for seven. Shahnawaz Dahani starred for the Warriors, taking two vital wickets for just 10 runs and winning the Player of the Match award. Harbhajan Singh, the Stallions captain, bowled one for eight runs and was run out for one while batting.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
November 19, 2025
