Haris Rauf with Ravi Ashwin in MLC 2026. Image Credits- X.com/Ha55anTufail
India and Pakistan have always had a rich history, both on and off the field. Once together as a nation, the two were divided in 1947, and since then, they have seen a lot. But about that any other day!
India and Pakistan first played each other in 1952, five years after the separation. Since then, the two nations have fought countless battles, and players from both teams have had an undying spirit to beat the other.
The cricketers from both countries, over the years, have had a rare relationship, better called frenemies, with each other.
However, there have been very rare instances when cricketers from India and Pakistan have played together for a single team.
In this article, we will discuss five such instances, excluding the IPL, in which India-Pakistan cricketers played on the same team.
India-Pakistan cricketers to have played together
5. Ravichandran Ashwin, Haris Rauf
Ravichandran Ashwin and Haris Rauf were the latest additions to the list. The two superstar cricketers are currently featuring for the San Francisco Unicorns in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC 2026).
The Pakistan quick has been with the franchise from the first season itself; Ashwin, meanwhile, made his MLC debut this season after retiring from Indian cricket a year ago. Although the two have yet to play a game together, they will eventually do so later in the tournament.
4. Harbhajan Singh, Azhar Mahmood
Indian veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and the stylish Azhar Mahmood shared the same dressing room during their county stint for Surrey in 2005.
Although the two yesteryear stars only played one game together, both Harbhajan and Azhar Mahmood contributed to their county team.
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The Pakistan all-rounder scored a mesmerising 89 off 99 balls before getting run out as they posted 603 runs. Later, the offie bagged 4/51 as they bowled out Gloucestershire for 288 runs. Surrey were able to enforce a follow-on, and both of them fell flat in the third innings.
Surrey were at 84/3 in the chase of 180 runs before the game was drawn.
3. Ishan Kishan, Mohammad Abbas
Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan and Pakistan's swing master Mohammad Abbas are also on the list, i.e., India-Pakistan cricketers who played on the same team. The two played for Nottinghamshire in 2025.
They featured together in just two matches. In those games, Kishan was able to slam 87 vs Yorkshire and 77 vs Somerset, while Abbas took four wickets against the former team and went wicketless against the latter. As a result, both those games ended as draws.
2. Virender Sehwag, Shoaib Akhtar
Back in the day, when Australia was inevitable, the ICC used to host World XI vs the mighty Aussies. During a fixture in 2005 in Melbourne, Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar played for the same team, becoming another duo of India-Pakistan cricketers the do so.
Although the result of the game didn't go their way, fans were treated to a rare moment. Australia smoked a mammoth 328/4, thanks to sublime batting from Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn.
Akhtar went wicketless as he returned with 0/61 in his eight overs, while Sehwag was able to pick Gilchrist's wicket. However, the Nawab of Najafgarh failed with the bat, as World XI were bowled out for 273.
1. Sachin Tendulkar, Saeed Anwar
Last but not the least among India-Pakistan cricketers who played on the same team were Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram. Flagbearers of the their respective country, Tendulkar and Akram were regarded as two of the best cricketers of their generation.
In an exhibition match between MCC and Rest of the World XI at Lord’s in 1998, the two world beaters represented the latter, which also featured Saeed Anwar and Mushtaq Ahmed.
In that game, MCC posted 261/4 on the board, a massive total for that time. However, the legendary Wasim Akram picked up Aamer Sohail’s wicket. The showstopper that day was Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 125 to take his team home.
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