It is being claimed by a PCB source close to the matter that the board's newly appointed Cricket Committee wanted to offer head coach Mickey Arthur a contract extension by two years but PM Imran Khan rejected the proposal and had an influential final say over the matter. 

The futuristic course of action was in discussion ever since national team's disappointing World Cup ouster in UK and it eventually led to Arthur and his backroom staff's departure from the set-up. 

"Arthur was very confident after these assurances that is why he came down to Lahore and spent quite a few days in anticipation of an extension but he was also disappointed and shocked when the PCB announced they were not retaining him or the support staff," a source was quoted as saying by PTI. 

It is further learnt that Imran, who is also the board's patron-in-chief, had been intimated about the issue by PCB chairman Ehsan Mani. However, the legendary skipper and all-rounder made it absolutely clear that a new team management will be put in place following the World Cup. 

Arthur, it is believed, was left shocked when a few media reports claimed that there exists a rift between him and skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed. The man was also reported to have suggested names of Babar Azam and Shadab Khan to take over Sarfaraz in red and white-ball formats, respectively. 

And then, quite unfortunately, he had to talk to Sarfaraz about those claims and rebuff such reports.  

"Arthur has communicated to Sarfaraz that media reports about him talking about changing the captain were not correct," the source confirmed. 

(Inputs from PTI)