Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and former India pacer Irfan Pathan shared a warm moment after Pakistan defeated India in an F2 Double Wicket match at the World Cricket Festival in Jeddah on Thursday.
Following the match, players from both teams were seen exchanging handshakes and high-fives.
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A video from the game showed Malik and Irfan embracing, a gesture that stood out and was widely appreciated by fans.
The moment came at a time when cricket ties between Pakistan and India have often been marked by tension.
In the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, India captain Suryakumar Yadav avoided shaking hands with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, an incident that drew criticism.
Similar situations were reported during the Women’s World Cup clash and the Under-19 and Rising Stars Asia Cup, where basic on-field courtesies were allegedly skipped.
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Relations worsened further when India chose not to play Pakistan in the second season of the World Championship of Legends, with Irfan Pathan also part of the team that boycotted matches against Pakistan in both the group stage and the semifinal.
In Thursday’s match, Pakistan batted first and scored 56 for four in four overs, with Malik leading the charge with 34 runs, while Imran Nazir added 16.
India, in response, managed 51 for four and fell short of the target.
The victory helped Pakistan reach the F2 Double Wicket semi-finals and marked their third straight win in the tournament.
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Earlier, Pakistan defeated the UAE and Sri Lanka, with Malik and Nazir playing key roles in both matches through aggressive and match-winning performances.
