Published: Dec 28, 2018, 05:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 28, 2018, 05:53 PM (IST)
Pakistan’s team management on Friday denied head coach Mickey Arthur lashed out at his players for squandering a good position in the first Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
On day two, Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse. They lost their last nine wickets for only 90 runs. Pakistan went into the third session at 100/1, but after losing Imam-ul-Haq, who scored a fifty, to Duanne Olivier, the cookie began to crumble.
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Reports had suggested that Arthur had censured Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali, and Asad Shafiq for “soft” dismissals. Some even reported that the coach and captain had a fallout.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement vehemently denying any such exchange of words in the post-day meeting.
“As per the norm, Mickey held a debriefing meeting at the end of the day’s play which was held in a cordial atmosphere with inputs from team members and management as is the usual practice,” it said.
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“Any speculation about coach’s angry behaviour towards the players is grossly exaggerated. The head coach, team management, captain and all team members are totally united with a singular aim of producing positive results.”
