LAHORE: Original hosts Pakistan will split Asia Cup matches with Sri Lanka under a new `hybrid model` for the 50-over tournament beginning on Aug 31, the Asian Cricket Council said on Thursday.

In a compromise aimed at forestalling a tit-for-tat boycott involving India, the move clears the way for Pakistan`s participation in the subsequent 50-overs World Cup in across the border.

India had ruled out travelling to Pakistan because of the soured political relations between the countries who play each other only in multi-team tournaments on neutral grounds. The neighbours have not met on either side`s soil in a bilateral series since 2012.

In reply, the Pakistan Cricket Board had threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup in India, which is due to start in October and its schedule awaited, if they were made to stage the entire Asia Cup in another country.

`The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka,` the ACC said in a state-ment. The final of the six-team tournament is scheduled on Sept 17.

The release did not mention the venues for the tournament or which team will play where but it is understood that India`s matches will be held in the island nation.

Oman Cricket chief and ACC vice-president Pankaj Khimji intervened to broker the compromise between the two sides, according to media reports.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi thanked the ACC for accepting what he called `the best solution` to navigate the crisis.

`I am elated that our hybrid version for the Asia Cup has been accepted,` Sethi said in a statement.

`This means the PCB will remain as the event host and stage matches in Pakistan with Sri Lanka as the neutral venue, which was required due to the Indian cricket teams inability to travel to Pakistan.

`Our passionate fans would have loved to see the India cricket teamin action in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, but we understand the BCCIs position. Like the PCB, the BCCI alsorequires government approval and clearance before crossing borders.

The two hosts and the ACC will work on a schedule.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India will be divided into two groups. The top two teams in each go to a Super Four and the top two play the final.

It was immediately unclear whether India will also follow the hybrid model for the World Cup and host Pakistan`s matches as neutral venues. Pakistan is also due to host the 2025 Champions Trophy and a similar issue may arise again.

India and Pakistan are bitter political rivals and the nucleararmed nations have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent`s partition in 1947.

It is understood that once International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice and chairman Greg Barclay visited Lahore to meet Sethi last month, it was decided that Pakistan won`t set any conditions for competing in the World Cup, provided four Asia Cup games are held in the country as they have the hostingrights. A compromise was reached although Pakistan has conditions on cities it will play in.

Playing a tournament without Pakistan would have meant that the broadcasters would be giving ACC just half the amount committed for the tournament because of two assured IndiaPakistan games and may be a chance of a third, if the two teams reach the final.

Any cricket match between India and Pakistan is one of the most watched events on the global sporting calendar. They last faced each other during last year`s T20 World Cup in Australia a match India won by four wickets.

The ICC is expected to announce the ODI World Cup schedule this week.

The last edition of the Asia Cup was played in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 in T20 format as a tune-up tournament for that year`s T20 World Cup.

The UAE was also considered as a neutral venue for India for this year`s Asia Cup but Bangladesh had issues about extreme weather in the gulf country during September.

-Agencies