In a moment that left fans of both the countries surprised, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Pakistani fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani shook hands warmly during the Abu Dhabi T10 League on Wednesday, November 19. It was a rare sight amid the tense political and sporting environment.
The brief greeting came just after Harbhajan Singh-led Aspin Stallions suffered a narrow four-run defeat to Northern Warriors in an Abu Dhabi T10 League encounter at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Harbhajan Singh shares rare moment with Shahnawaz Dahani in Abu Dhabi T10 League
However, the timing made this moment explosive on social media. For months, players of all age groups from India and Pakistan have avoided shaking hands after the Pahalgam attack earlier this year, which reignited cross-border tensions.
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This tension has also spilled over onto the cricket field, where men’s, women’s and junior teams have abandoned traditional post-match conduct in many tournaments. It started during the Asia Cup 2025 when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistani players.
And the surprising thing is that Harbhajan Singh had also earlier taken a very tough stand on this issue. Earlier this year, the World Cup winner, along with Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and the Pathan brothers, had pulled out of the clash against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends. At that time he had said that the situation demands a strong response.
Harbhajan Singh’s warm style surprises fans amid India-Pakistan tension
His decision forced India Champions to boycott the semi-final against Pakistan, creating the biggest controversy in the world of cricket. But on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, Harbhajan decided to end this coolness.
Dahani, who took 2 for 10 and played a major role in the Warriors’ victory, went to Harbhajan immediately after the final ball. The Stallions captain responded with a simple handshake and a little conversation before the players departed.
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Earlier in the match, Harbhajan had bowled a tight spell for eight runs and was later run out for one during a tense chase. As expected, the friendly moment exploded online, with many reacting sharply to Harbhajan’s unexpected gesture.
Harbhajan Singh warmly shook hands with Shahnawaz Dahani after the Abu Dhabi T10 match.
Dahani replied with a smile – You wonder why we don’t see the same energy in international matches. Interesting paradox. pic.twitter.com/TAQwC47DVQ– Abhay (@CrickTrack360) 19 November 2025
Harbhajan Singh shaking hands with Shahnawaz Dahani. It seems the no-handshake policy is only for those wearing Pakistani shirts. pic.twitter.com/EqtsxQlSds
-Taimoor Zaman (@Taimoor_ze) 19 November 2025
However, just a few days earlier, during the Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind on November 16, players from both sides exchanged brief greetings after the matches, thanks to the friendly atmosphere created when the teams traveled together.
Northern Warriors vs Aspin Stallions Match Highlights
Talking about Abu Dhabi T10 League, Northern Warriors made a strong score of 114/2 in 10 overs thanks to Johnson Charles’ 55* and Colin Munro’s 38*. Tymal Mills dismissed Hazratullah Zazai. Chasing the target, Aspin Stallions fought hard but could only reach 110 runs for seven wickets.
With the help of Dahani’s brilliant bowling in the last overs, Northern Warriors defeated Harbhajan’s team by four runs and he got the Player of the Match award. Avishka Fernando was the top scorer for Aspin Stallions with 33 runs in the Abu Dhabi T10 League match.
Shahnawaz Dahani and Taskin Ahmed were the standout bowlers for the Warriors, taking two wickets each at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
