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Hockey Heals: India-Pak U-21s High-Five After Cricket’s ‘No Handshake’ World Cup Snub

Shivansh Rana | 4 min read | 1 day ago | Oct 15, 2025 04:10 pm IST
Hockey Heals: India-Pak U-21s High-Five After Cricket's 'No Handshake' World Cup Snub

In a world where cricket fields have become stages for political tension, a junior hockey match just showed everyone what sportsmanship is all about. On October 14, 2025, while the memory of icy stares and refused handshakes from the recent ICC Women’s World Cup and Asia Cup was still fresh, India and Pakistan’s under-21 hockey players chose a different path in Malaysia.

Key Takeaways

  • Hockey’s Healing Touch: India and Pakistan’s U-21 hockey players exchanged high-fives and handshakes at the Sultan of Johor Cup 2025.
  • Cricket’s Cold War: This contrasted sharply with recent cricket matches, including the Asia Cup and Women’s World Cup, where players refused handshakes.
  • Politics on the Pitch: The cricket snub was linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicating a win to the victims.
  • Formal Complaints: Both India and Pakistan filed complaints with the ICC over player conduct during the heated cricket encounters.
  • Match Result: The friendly yet competitive hockey match ended in a 3-3 draw.

The Cricket Controversy Nobody Forgot

Look, you saw it happen. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. During the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE and the Women’s World Cup in Colombo, the traditional post-match handshakes just… didn’t happen. India’s players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, made a clear stand.

Why? Yadav pointed directly to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, dedicating their victory to the victims and the armed forces. It was a powerful statement, but it sent shockwaves. This wasn’t just a game anymore. It became so heated that Pakistan lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against the Indian players’ conduct.

And India didn’t stay quiet either. They filed their own complaint against Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for what they called “provocative gestures.” The whole thing even spilled over into the Asia Cup trophy ceremony on September 28, where Indian players reportedly refused to accept the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

A Breath of Fresh Air in Hockey

So, with all that bad blood, what did you expect from the Sultan of Johor Cup hockey match? More of the same, right? Wrong. In what sources are calling a “refreshing display of sportsmanship,” the under-21 players from both nations broke the trend. Before and after their intense match, they were seen exchanging high-fives and handshakes.

Yeah, you read that right. It was a simple gesture, but it meant so much. Here’s the thing, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had reportedly told its players to keep their cool and avoid any confrontations, even if the Indian side refused to shake hands. But they didn’t have to worry. The young athletes chose respect over rivalry.

The match itself was a nail-biter, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw. It proved you can compete fiercely on the field and still show mutual respect off it. A lesson, maybe?

What Does This All Mean?

But honestly, does one hockey match change everything? The political tensions, linked to events like “Operation Sindoor” and the Pahalgam attack, are still very real. The wounds from the cricket controversies are deep, with an incomplete trophy ceremony and official complaints still on record.

What these young hockey players did was create a small but significant moment of peace. They reminded everyone that the spirit of the game can, and should, rise above politics. Will the senior cricket teams take a page from their book? That’s the big question now. What do you think will happen the next time they meet on the cricket pitch?