Shoaib Malik, Irfan Pathan Share Warm Hug After Edge-of-Seat F2 Double Wicket Clash at World Cricket Festival

Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik hugged Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan after the Men in Green’s win over the Men in Blue in the F2 Double Wicket match at the World Cricket Festival 2026 in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The moment highlights the camaraderie between players from India and Pakistan, showing sportsmanship amid the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

The heartfelt moment is a stark contrast to the Asia Cup 2025 matches between the two arch-rivals.

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav didn’t shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha. India and Pakistan competed in three matches, but the two teams didn’t meet each other after the proceedings. India also refused to accept the Asia Cup Trophy from PCB and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi.

Similar incidents happened during the Women’s World Cup and the Hong Kong Super Sixes. India also boycotted two matches against Pakistan in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL).

Pakistan’s match-winning performance

Pakistan batted first and posted 56-4 in four overs, with Shoaib Malik amassing 34 runs. Imran Nazir also made a contribution of 16 runs. Chasing 55, India managed 51/4, falling short by 5 runs.

It was Pakistan’s third consecutive win. In the first two matches, Pakistan defeated the UAE and Sri Lanka, with Malik and Nazir posting runs.

Meanwhile, the hug between Irfan and Shoaib served as a powerful reminder of cricket’s power to solve the differences. Such moments highlight the mutual respect and goodwill between the players.

The post Shoaib Malik, Irfan Pathan Share Warm Hug After Edge-of-Seat F2 Double Wicket Clash at World Cricket Festival appeared first on Read.