Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper Suraj Karkera commented on Pakistan's withdrawal from the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) Punjab 2026. While acknowledging that fans will miss the intense rivalry, Karkera stated the Indian team remains focused on performing their best. Bangladesh has replaced Pakistan in the tournament, where India, fresh off their Asian Games gold, will enter as top-ranked contenders.
Former Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir has expressed his excitement for the India-Pakistan clash in the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, emphasising the importance of quality cricket. He highlighted the immense pressure from fans in such encounters, drawing from his own experiences of thriving under pressure while playing against India, including in the IPL and on bilateral tours. The article also notes the historical head-to-head record and details of the upcoming 2027 World Cup fixture.
Wednesday's India-Pakistan World Cup match in Amstelveen saw players exchange handshakes, a gesture that has become contentious in India-Pakistan sporting encounters, particularly in cricket. While the Indian team dominated on the field, winning 5-3, the post-match handshakes led to mixed reactions online, highlighting the differing approaches to rivalry in hockey versus cricket.
India-Pakistan clashes in cricket and hockey drew big audiences at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, helping fuel stronger viewership and a 20% revenue rise.
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to secure the gold medal in the Asian Games cricket final, a match that passed without any major controversy despite the ongoing diplomatic tensions and the conspicuous absence of customary handshakes between the teams.
India's assistant coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar emphasised the importance of winning crucial moments ahead of the Asian Games gold medal cricket match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Drawing on his own experience from the 1998 Independence Cup final, Kanitkar stated that while the hype is significant, players must focus on their game and aim for a second successive Asiad gold for the country's medal tally.
Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi will not attend the Asian Games 2026 gold medal cricket match between India and Pakistan due to prior commitments. His absence helps avoid a potential protocol conflict given the ongoing tensions with the BCCI regarding trophy presentations.
The third season of the World Championship of Legends will be held in the UAE from October 3 to 18, featuring cricketing legends like Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and David Warner. This marks the tournament's first venture outside the UK, promising high-profile clashes and rekindled international rivalries across Dubai and Sharjah.
The Wagener Stadium, site of a historic 1973 India-Pakistan hockey World Cup semifinal, is set to host another clash between the arch-rivals. Former captain M P Ganesh recounts the intense 1-0 victory for India in 1973, highlighting the fierce competition and political undertones of the era.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has received over one million ticket applications for the ODI World Cup 2027, with the India vs. Pakistan match being the most sought-after, attracting over 100,000 applications. Other high-demand matches include South Africa vs. India and India vs. Australia. The tournament will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 2 to November 21 next year.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on August 15, with India featuring in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here is the complete India schedule, fixtures and squad details for the World Cup.
The Asian Cricket Council has announced that India will play arch-rivals Pakistan in the Women's T20 Asia Cup on September 5 in Dubai. The tournament, featuring eight teams, will run from August 28 to September 13, with India being the most successful team in its history.
Ahead of their crucial Hockey World Cup 2026 clash, the traditional India-Pakistan hockey rivalry faces an unusual question: will the teams shake hands? This comes after a similar debate in cricket. While the historical record is close, India has dominated recent encounters, winning decisively in the 2023 Asian Games and Pro League.
Harmanpreet Kaur says a winning culture is taking shape in the Indian women's cricket team as they prepare for the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied its over-50s team permission to participate in the International Masters Cricket World Cup in India next January, citing government refusal. This follows a similar decision by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, highlighting ongoing strained relations between the two nations.
'It beggars belief that Saudi Arabia would deploy military force against India, a top partner and market.'
The captains of India and Pakistan women's cricket teams, Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana, once again refrained from shaking hands at the toss during their Women's Asia Cup 2026 match in Dubai.
Sixteen years ago, when India and Pakistan last met in a men's Hockey World Cup, the contest was more than just two arch-rivals facing each other. It was about settling an old score. And as the two teams prepare to meet again after 16 years, memories of that evening remain fresh for those who were part of it.
The Indian Army captured Thang in Ladakh in the 1971 War. Ghulam Hussain had left home for a routine errand found himself on the other side of an altered border. He could never return and found a new country and a new home.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has confirmed Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India. The event, scheduled from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, will feature six nations, with India hosting its arch-rivals under the central government's policy allowing multi-lateral sports engagements.
Pakistan's chief selector Samiullah Khan believes a draw against arch-rivals India will be crucial for the national hockey team to advance past the group stage in the upcoming World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. Pakistan, participating after an eight-year hiatus, has announced a 20-member squad, with foreign coaches assisting the team.
World champions India, featuring a strong line-up of T20 stars, are set to face Pakistan in the men's gold-medal cricket clash at the Asian Games, a match where a silver medal would be considered a 'royal embarrassment' for India.
Indian cricket fans travelled thousands of kilometres, paying exorbitant prices for tickets and travel, to witness the India-Pakistan men's cricket final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a stadium back home.
Pakistan is set to host the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup, with plans to use a hybrid model where matches involving India will be played in the United Arab Emirates. The ICC announced the tournament dates, and the Pakistan Cricket Board aims to host all other games, including knockout stages not featuring India, potentially boosting women's cricket in the country.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the Indian government has no involvement or official support for Track 2 discussions on India-Pakistan ties, even when retired Indian officials participate. He clarified that such participants speak in their personal capacities and do not represent the government's views, and New Delhi does not take cognisance of these private events.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson acknowledges India as the benchmark in white-ball cricket but expresses confidence in his team's ability to challenge them at the Asian Games. He also defended Pakistan's T20 performance, highlighting their improved ranking and series wins, while downplaying captaincy speculation for Sahibzada Farhan.
Pakistan has withdrawn from the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026, scheduled to be held in Punjab, with Bangladesh named as their replacement.
Terming protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as "enemies" like India, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said there will be no dialogue with them, even as the death toll due to clashes between demonstrators and security personnel rose to 20 on Wednesday.
Abhishek Sharma's 61 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 powered India to 211/6 before Hasan Nawaz's 96 fell short as Pakistan lost by 19 runs.
Defending champions India are set to face arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-stakes men's hockey semifinal at the Asian Games. The winner of the gold medal will secure a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Pakistan has requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. Hockey India has rejected this demand, stating there will be no change in venue for the tournament scheduled in Mohali and Jalandhar from October 27 to November 5. Pakistan's participation remains uncertain, with potential replacements like Bangladesh and Oman being considered.
Defending champions India secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Games hockey semifinal, thanks to a last-minute goal by Abhishek. India initially led 3-0 but allowed Pakistan to stage a comeback, scoring three goals to level the score before Abhishek's decisive strike with just 45 seconds remaining. The win sends India to the final, though their second-half performance raised questions.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has stated that the national team is yet to receive government clearance to participate in the men's Asian Champions Trophy in India, refuting claims of confirmed participation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Pakistan will participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, scheduled from October 27 to November 5. This participation aligns with the Indian government's policy allowing multi-lateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, despite a ban on bilateral series. The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, with a highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on November 1.
Ishan Kishan's explosive unbeaten 80 and Jasprit Bumrah's two wicket burst were instrumental in guiding India to a 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday.
Pakistan has formally requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. The tournament is scheduled for October 27 to November 5 in Mohali and Jalandhar. This request follows earlier claims of Pakistan's participation and past withdrawals from events in India.
Bangladesh achieved a historic milestone by defeating Australia by nine wickets in Darwin, marking their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil and becoming the fastest Asian team to do so.
India posted a formidable total of 211 for six against Pakistan in the men's cricket final at the Asian Games, driven by explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28 balls) and Tilak Varma (unbeaten 51 off 22 balls).
Shimla police arrested a key heroin supplier in Jalalabad, Punjab, close to the India-Pakistan border. The accused, Akashdeep alias Akash, was arrested following an investigation into two Punjab residents caught with heroin in Shimla.
India's head coach Craig Fulton expressed relief after the defending champions secured a dramatic 4-3 victory against Pakistan in the Asian Games hockey semifinal. Despite leading 3-0, India allowed Pakistan to equalise before clinching a late winner. Fulton highlighted defensive lapses, missed opportunities, and a loss of composure, stressing the need for improvement before the final.
