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New Delhi: Hockey India has taken an opposite stance on the India vs Pakistan "handshake row" and said it will not restrict its players from shaking hands with the Pakistan team, unlike the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did during the Men's Asia Cup 2025 and the recently-concluded Women's World Cup.
After Indian players refused to exchange pleasantries with their Pakistani counterparts in the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan players shook hands ahead of their match during the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia, an act that courted controversy. The gesture came as a surprise to many, especially after both men's and women's cricket teams decided not to shake hands with Pakistan players during the Asia Cup 2025 and Women's World Cup 2025, respectively.
However, Hockey India has taken a different stance, saying it will work in accordance with the sport's values and regulations.
"We are not governed by cricket. Whatever the cricketers did, it was their choice. We follow the Olympic Charter and what FIH says. There are no such instructions to avoid handshakes or high-fives from HI," HI secretary Bhola Nath Singh said, as quoted by the Times of India.
Hockey India also clarified that the players were never instructed not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, and the stance will remain the same in the future.
"In future meetings with Pakistan, HI will not give any directions to its players. We will play and look to win," he concluded.
During the Asia Cup 2025, a massive 'handshake' controversy erupted after India captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. After the matches, Indian cricketers also did not shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts.
The actions of Indian cricketers infuriated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with the team reportedly even coming close to boycotting a match. However, no such decision was made.
Women's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur adopted a similar stance during India's match against Pakistan in the Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, when she did not shake hands with the Pakistan skipper.
