Lahore – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to make a final decision on whether to publicly release the list of players who will receive central contracts under a new format-based payment and categorisation system, according to reports. Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was asked about the central contracts during a media interaction in Multan on Monday but said he was unaware of the latest developments. The PCB had earlier confirmed that it would introduce format-based central contracts for the 2026-27 season. Under the new framework, male players who have represented Pakistan in at least four Test matches, six ODIs or six T20Is during the preceding 12 months would be eligible for central contracts. The central contracts issue is also significant for Pakistan’s cricketers because the new format-based structure could affect not only their remuneration but also their status within the national setup.