“Sports unite everyone” – Harbhajan Singh mistakenly reacts to Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem’s fake handle on X ft. Neeraj Chopra

Australia v India - ICC World Test Championship Final 2023: Day Two - Source: Getty
Harbhajan Singh shares great friendship with Pakistan cricketers like Shahid Afridi. [Getty Images]

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has reacted mistakenly to a post from Pakistan's new Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem’s fake account on X. The legendary spinner lauded the pictures, showing the Olympic gold medalist Arshad and silver medalist Neeraj Chopra.

The post was shared on social media after the javelin throw final event in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday, August 8. Sharing a heartwarming picture with Neeraj, Arshad’s fake handle (@ArshadNadeemPak) wrote:

“We are always natural friends.”

Harbhajan reacted:

“Congratulations Arshad… Great picture. Sports unite everyone.”

Notably, the original X handle of Arshad Nadeem is @ArshadOlympian11, which shared the last social media post on Wednesday, August 7.

Despite the fake handle, Neeraj and Arshad share a great friendship. Neeraj said after the Olympic event (via ANI):

"Today was Arshad's day. I gave my best, but some things need to be addressed and worked on. We all feel happy whenever we win a medal for the country. It's time to improve the game now.”

Even Neeraj Chopra’s mother congratulated Arshad on the win. She told ANI:

"We are happy with the silver. The one who got the gold (Arshad Nadeem) is also my child.”

India unlikely to go to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy

The heartwarming picture of Arshad Nadeem with Neeraj Chopra comes amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan regarding the former’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The BCCI has refused to travel to host Pakistan for the ICC event. The Indian cricket board has cited that the government has not given them the green light to participate in the event.

Several Pakistani cricketers, including former captains Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, have requested Indian players to come to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Malik told Cricket Pakistan:

"Whatever reservations there are between the countries, that's a separate issue and should be solved separately. Politics shouldn't come into sports. The Pakistan team went to India last year, and now it's a good opportunity for the Indian team too."
"I think there are many players in the Indian team who haven't played in Pakistan, so it would be great for them. Hum bahut acche log hai (we are good people). We're very hospitable people, so I'm sure the Indian team should definitely come," he added.

Afridi shared similar sentiments as Malik, making a special appeal to Virat Kohli. He told News 24:

"I will welcome Team India. Even when Pakistan used to tour, we received a lot of respect and love from India, and when India came in 2005-06, all their players enjoyed. There is no better advent of peace than India and Pakistan going to each other's country and playing cricket."
"If Virat Kohli comes to Pakistan, he'll forget the love and hospitality of India. He has his own class," he added.

The Men in Blue had also refused to play the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan and the matches were shifted to Sri Lanka.

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Edited by Samya Majumdar
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