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Former cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar reignited their old rivalry in a light-hearted video at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium ahead of the highly anticipated India versus Pakistan clash in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played at the same venue within a couple of week’s time. These two cricketing superstars, who had their infamous spat during the Asia Cup 2010, recreated it once again on the sidelines of the final of the 2025 edition of the International League T20 (ILT20).
Notably, in the close match between India and Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2010, which was played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka, Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar were involved in a heated argument. It ended after Harbhajan Singh smashed the Pakistani fast bowler for a crucial six, to help the Indian cricket team secure a win in the last over of the contest, but since then, these two have become best of friends off the field, especially after their international retirement.
That's our way of getting ready for Champions Trophy: Shoaib Akhtar
In a short video shared by Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar in a collaboration on Instagram, both of them were seen hilariously pushing and shoving each other before playing some cricket with plastic bat and ball inside the Dubai International Cricket Stadium just before the start of the ILT20 2025 final last evening. They captioned the post, “That's our way of getting ready for Champions Trophy. @harbhajan3. Kya kehta hai??”
Watch the video here:
Notably, India and Pakistan are slated to take on each other in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A clash on February 23 in Dubai, which will be their second match of the tournament. Pakistan are slated to play the opening match of the competition on February 19 against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and on the next day, India will open their campaign in a match against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Furthermore, in their last meeting in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the final of the 2017 edition, which happened at The Oval in London, and with that, they will be kicking-off the upcoming tournament as defending champions.
