The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah’s administrative and diplomatic skills will be put to test later this week when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is expected to convene a meeting to discuss the hosting of the Asia Cup.

Shah, who is also the chairman of the ACC, has so far stuck to India’s stand of not playing in Pakistan and refused to accept the ‘hybrid’ model as suggested by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi.

During an interaction with The Telegraph on Tuesday, the PCB chairman said that they will abide by government instructions, much like the BCCI, but India’s participation in the Asia Cup, even via the ‘hybrid’ model, could open up new shores as far as their participation in the World Cup in India is concerned.

The PCB has offered two options in the ‘hybrid’ model. According to the first model which has been rejected by the BCCI, India would play their matches at a neutral venue (Dubai) whereas all other matches would be played in Pakistan.

In the second option floated by hosts Pakistan, 4/5 matches of the group stage, involving teams other than India, would take place in Pakistan while the rest of the matches, including the final, would be played at a neutral venue.

The BCCI is yet to respond to the second option and India’s stand could influence Pakistan’s decision on playing in the World Cup in October-November.

“I have tried to create a compromise formula and find a solution to the impasse. The hybrid model was floated to stop government interference and providing a political angle to the context. The BCCI is yet to get back to us on the hybrid option and are waiting for their formal nod,” Sethi said.

“We have worked out a great schedule and presented it during the ACC meeting in Bahrain. We reiterated the same proposal at the Dubai meeting a few days back. Only Bangladesh had raised objections about the heat in Dubai. It is only from the media that I have heard about Sri Lanka raising objections.”

But will Pakistan tour India for the World Cup if India decide to play at a neutral venue as per the hybrid model?

“My government’s instructions have been very clear since India hasn’t toured Pakistan for bilateral series since 2006. If India refuse to come to Pakistan, then we will also follow a reciprocal arrangement and play the World Cup at a neutral venue. The PCB has to work within that framework,” Sethi remarked.

“But who knows, things can change after a few months. If the government says that we can play in India for the World Cup despite India not touring Pakistan for the Asia Cup then we will be ready to do so... But the BCCI has to make the first move and agree to the hybrid model and play the Asia Cup.”

The BCCI apparently wants assurance from Pakistan on their touring India for the World Cup before agreeing to the Asia Cup ‘hybrid’ model. But Sethi says that is unlikely as of now.

An India-Pakistan encounter is very crucial for the Asia Cup since nearly 80 per cent of the revenue is generated from there. During the last Asia Cup, India and Pakistan met thrice.

There have been reports of Pakistan threatening to pull out of their Test tour of Sri Lanka next month if they refuse to agree to the hybrid model. But Sethi was non-committal. “I object to the word threaten,” he said. “The PCB has been working on a compromise formula to host the Asia Cup and is trying to provide solutions. We will cross the bridge when the time comes,” he said, referring to Pakistan’s Test tour of Lanka.