PCB yet to announce central contracts list under new format-based payment system

The Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to announce centrally contracted players under its new format-based payment system. The delay comes as the board struggles with categorising players, while questions continue over transparency in its financial matters

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to take a final call on releasing the list of players who will get central contracts under a new system of payment and categorisation.

The PCB usually releases the list of centrally contracted players by the first week of August, as contracts run from June to July every fiscal year.

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However, a reliable source has informed that the board has still not decided whether to make these names public.

“The thinking is that it is not necessary to announce the players who are to be given these new contracts, as it is an internal matter of the board,” the source said on Monday.

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was on Monday asked about the matter in Multan during a media interaction, but he said was unaware.

The PCB had confirmed it would roll out format-based central contracts for 2026-2027, saying that only those male players who have played four Test matches, six ODIs, or as many T20Is, in the last 12 months would be eligible for getting contracts.

The source also added that due to the new contracts framework of categorising players by formats, the board is apparently struggling to assign players to these categories.

Last week, the PCB got a stay order from the Islamabad High Court until September 22 on being asked by a government agency to provide them with all financial and other details of the board’s accounts.

The current PCB set up, under the chairmanship of Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, has been unusually secretive about its financial matters. Since 2023, no audited statements of the board have been posted on its website, which used to be a normal practice for the governing body.

The PCB has only shared financial details with the media when they have deemed that doing so was beneficial to them.