Archive · 19 Aug 2026
India, Pakistan Players High-Five After Hockey World Cup Clash
India and Pakistan played a hockey match in the 2026 World Cup.
India won the exciting game 5-3.
Afterward, players from both teams gave each other high-fives and greeted one another.
This was a friendly moment after a very competitive game.
It was different from some recent cricket matches between the two countries.
In those cricket games, players did not always shake hands.
Hockey India says its players can shake hands or exchange high-fives with Pakistan’s players.
The gesture showed sportsmanship despite the long rivalry between the teams.
India defeated Pakistan 5-3 in their final Pool D match at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen.
Players from both teams exchanged high-fives and greetings after the match.
Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek and Hardik Singh were named among India’s key attacking contributors.
The win moved India into the next round, while Pakistan’s campaign suffered another setback.
The hockey gesture contrasted with recent India-Pakistan cricket matches marked by handshake controversies.
- Who
- India and Pakistan’s senior men’s hockey teams and their players.
- What
- India beat Pakistan 5-3, after which players exchanged high-fives and greetings.
- When
- Wednesday during the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.
- Where
- Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen.
- Why
- The players displayed sportsmanship after the match; the gesture was notable because recent India-Pakistan cricket matches had involved handshake controversies.
Hockey Sportsmanship Approach
Recent Cricket Precedent
Post-match interaction
Hockey Sportsmanship Approach
Hockey players from India and Pakistan exchanged high-fives and greetings after the World Cup match.
Recent Cricket Precedent
Recent India-Pakistan cricket matches have included instances in which players avoided customary handshakes.
Governing approach
Hockey Sportsmanship Approach
Hockey India says its approach follows the Olympic Charter and International Hockey Federation guidelines on sportsmanship.
Recent Cricket Precedent
The article highlights handshake controversies surrounding cricket matches during the 2025 Asia Cup, the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup and an earlier women’s T20 World Cup match.
- Result
- India defeated Pakistan 5-3.
- Competition
- FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.
- Stage
- India’s final Pool D match.
- Venue
- Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen.
- India’s outcome
- India moved into the next round.
- Post-match gesture
- Players exchanged high-fives and greeted each other.
- Hockey India position
- Players are not restricted from shaking hands or exchanging high-fives with Pakistan players.