The Pakistan cricket board has discredited reports that coach Mickey Arthur initiated heated exchanges with several batsmen, including Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, at the end of day two of the Test series opener against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Thursday.

Shafiq, Ahmed and Ali effectively epitomised Pakistan’s batting woes, which left them on the brink of defeat in Centurion – and an early deficit – in the three-match series.

‘The Pakistan team management, led by manager Talat Ali, strongly refutes the baseless allegations levelled against head coach Mickey Arthur on his supposed “angry behaviour” at the end of day two of the ongoing Test match against South Africa in Centurion,’ read a statement from the PCB.

‘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.

‘Any speculation about the 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.

‘The team manager and rest of the management hopes that media would refrain from speculating on the matter.’

Arthur coached South Africa and Australia before joining Pakistan.