A rare gesture amid rising cricketing tensions
In a striking moment at the Abu Dhabi T10 League on November 19, Harbhajan Singh, former Indian off-spinner and captain of Aspin Stallions, extended a handshake to Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani. The gesture came shortly after a tense match between Harbhajan’s Stallions and Dahani’s Northern Warriors at the Zayed Cricket Stadium — a match that ended in a narrow four-run defeat for the Stallions.
The brief exchange — a handshake and a few words — stood out given the broader political and sporting context. Amid escalated India–Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack earlier this year, cricketing relations have reflected diplomatic frostiness. Players from both countries have largely abandoned the traditional post-match handshake ritual across senior and junior tournaments. In that sense, Harbhajan’s decision to engage with Dahani sparked discussion across social platforms.
From firm boycott to symbolic outreach
The significance of this gesture is underscored by Harbhajan’s own past stance. In August 2025, he had taken a strong position against participating in any cricket with Pakistan. “Blood and sweat can’t co-exist, and our government has the same stance. We can’t play cricket when there is tension between India and Pakistan. Until the issues are resolved, cricket can take a back seat,” Harbhajan told Times of India during the controversy surrounding the World Championship of Legends.
He, along with Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and the Pathan brothers, had pulled out of a Legends fixture against Pakistan earlier this year. Their boycott led to the India Champions forfeiting the semi-final, effectively handing Pakistan a walkover into the final.
Yet, in Abu Dhabi, the veteran spinner chose connection over avoidance, as Dahani — fresh off a match-winning performance of 2/10 — approached him post-match. The moment became one of the most talked-about visuals from the tournament.
In July – Harbhajan Singh withdrew from the match against Pakistan in the WCL.
In November – Harbhajan Singh was seen shaking hands with Pakistan’s Shahnawaz Dahani in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. pic.twitter.com/Xx9KWKsVDL
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) November 20, 2025
Evolving norms on the field
This isn’t the first instance in recent months where India–Pakistan cricketing norms have been tested. The handshake snub first made waves during the Asia Cup, when Suryakumar Yadav’s India refused handshakes with Pakistan players. The pattern continued into the ICC Women’s World Cup and the Rising Stars Asia Cup, where players from both sides avoided formal post-match pleasantries.
However, the streak has not been unbroken. Indian and Pakistani junior field hockey players exchanged high fives in Malaysia. On November 16, at the Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind, Indian and Pakistani players — who traveled together — exchanged handshakes and congratulations after the game. That friendly atmosphere briefly suggested that sportsmanship might occasionally override geopolitical tensions.
A small moment, a bigger message?
While Harbhajan’s handshake with Dahani may be seen as a personal decision made in the spirit of the game, it has reignited broader questions about how athletes navigate national sentiment, diplomacy, and sporting values.
Whether this moment marks a shift in tone or remains a rare exception, it has certainly added a new layer to the ongoing story of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.
