Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh shaking hands with Shahnawaz Dahani in Abu Dhabi T10 League match (Credits : Willow tv/X)

Overview:

Harbhajan and several senior Indian stars had also declined to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends.

Harbhajan Singh, the former India off-spinner, shared a light moment with Pakistan fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani during the Abu Dhabi T10 League. As captain of the Aspin Stallions, Harbhajan walked up to Dahani before their match against the Northern Warriors and exchanged a warm greeting.

The scene drew plenty of attention because Indian men’s and women’s players had recently avoided shaking hands with Pakistan cricketers at the Asia Cup and the Women’s ODI World Cup, following the Pahalgam terror attacks. Harbhajan and several senior Indian stars had also declined to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends.

Coming back to the match, the Northern Warriors won the contest by four runs. They put 114 on the board, and the Stallions fell short in their chase, finishing on 110 by the end of their 10 overs.

Here’s how fans reacted online

Harbhajan Singh had earlier slammed the BCCI for allowing to prepare a run-turner to be prepared for the first Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

India suffered a 30-run loss in the opening Test against South Africa, falling short while chasing a target of 124. The match wrapped up in three days.

“They’ve finished Test cricket. Rest in peace, Test cricket,” Harbhajan Singh wrote.

“The way things have been handled and the sort of pitches prepared over the years is something I’ve noticed for a long time. No one mentions it because the team keeps winning, players are taking wickets, and those wickets are helping some become stars.

“So everyone assumes everything is fine. But in my view, this approach didn’t begin recently. It has been happening for many years, and I believe it is not the right way to play,” said Singh, who claimed 13 wickets at the Eden Gardens during India’s iconic 2001 victory over Australia.

V M Suriya Narayanan is a passionate cricket writer who has been following the game since 2007. With a background in Civil Engineering (B.E.), he blends analytical thinking with a deep understanding of...