PCB Keeps New Central Contracts List Confidential as Classification Issues Persist

Overview

• The PCB has adopted format-based central contracts for 2026–27 that tie eligibility to recent appearances, requiring male players to have played four Tests, six ODIs, or an equivalent number of T20Is in the prior 12 months.
• The board has not decided whether to make the list of contracted players public and is reportedly considering keeping the list internal while it resolves player category assignments.
• Officials say assigning players to format categories has proved difficult under the new system, creating delays to the usual early-August announcement schedule.
• The Islamabad High Court granted the PCB a stay until September 22 after a government agency sought the board’s financial and account details, and audited statements have not been posted on the PCB website since 2023.
• Players and team staff remain uninformed about final contract decisions, with Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi saying he did not know the status, leaving pay and selection clarity uncertain for those affected.