After a meeting held in Lahore on Friday to discuss the new format for the contracts, PCB and captain Shoaib Malik dished out contrasting versions of the outcome.

Shafqat Nagmi, the chief operating officer of the board, told reporters that the players had agreed to the new terms and conditions of the contract, based on performance rather than seniority.

But, Malik told the press, shortly after the meeting with Nagmi, that the format of the central contracts was yet to be finalised.

"They have agreed to some of our suggestions and we have accepted some of their proposals. But the contracts would be finalised after a meeting with the board Chairman next week," the Pakistan skipper said.

Nagmi said the players -- including Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt -- supported the idea of having performance-based contracts apart from getting a uniform monthly retainer.

However, Malik said while the players agreed that it was a good idea to reward individual performances in the new contracts, seniority should also be taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket authorities have warned the players that they could face stiff penalties, including match bans, if they speak to the media without prior permission from the team management.

A member of the Pakistan side said they had been told verbally by board officials that it was off limits for every player, including captain Shoaib Malik, to speak to the media without getting clearance from the team management.

"We have been told that if we violate this new ruling we can be banned for a number of matches. But, the ban would be for how many matches they have not told us as yet," the player said on condition of anonymity.

"Obviously the players are not happy with the new restrictions which have come into effect more strictly after the World Cup," he said.

Sources said two days back a few players were committed to appear on a television talk show on the Geo sports channel. The channel finally had to cancel its scheduled programme after the board made it clear to the players that they could not make direct commitments with media.