India Vs Pakistan Sultan of Johor Cup: Pakistani Hockey Players Given Special Instructions On Handshake

India Vs Pakistan: In light of rising political and sporting tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has instructed its players to avoid confrontations and emotional responses during their high-stakes match against India in the Sultan of Johor Cup.

India Vs Pakistan Sultan of Johor Cup: Will the Rivals Shake Hands?

A senior PHF official stated that players have been mentally prepared for a possible “no-handshake” stance from the Indian junior men’s hockey team, similar to what occurred during the recent Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament.

“The players have been told that if the Indian players don’t shake hands before or after the match, just ignore the gesture and move on,” the official said.

The directive follows a series of incidents during the cricket Asia Cup, including India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players and verbal spats between players, which led to official complaints lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and ICC.

Also Read: Sultan of Johor Cup 2025: All You Need To Know

Pakistan began their campaign with a dominant 7–1 win over hosts Malaysia, but lost their second match to Great Britain. The federation remains cautious amid ongoing uncertainty about future fixtures, including the Jr. Men’s Hockey World Cup, where India and Pakistan are grouped together.