Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has paid a glowing tribute to Bob Woolmer, saying Pakistan cricket would have reached great heights had the late coach been alive.

Woolmer tragically passed away in 2007 during the ODI World Cup in the West Indies. The former Pakistan coach, who was 58 at the time, was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica just hours after the Men in Green’s elimination from the tournament. Pakistan had exited the tournament with a humiliating defeat against Ireland.

Although the cricketing world was left in shock by Woolmer’s tragic death and it was widely believed to be foul play, it was later ruled to be due to natural causes. Jamaican police had investigated the matter, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan government had also sent their own security officers to the Caribbean island.

I was very close to Bob: Younis Khan

Younis Khan recently spoke about Woolmer and had nothing but praise for him. The Pakistan great recalled having a great relationship with the former head coach and said that he would have taken the country’s cricket to great heights.

Younis Khan also recalled the fateful day when Woolmer tragically passed away. Younis Khan stated that while he and Woolmer always talked about cricket after a match, he decided not to when Pakistan suffered an unexpected defeat against Ireland. The next day, Younis Khan did not see Woolmer at the breakfast table before learning of his demise.

“I have no doubt that if Woolmer had remained the head coach, Pakistan cricket would have been very different today and I would have taken it to great heights,” Younis told a Pakistani television channel.

“I was very close to Bob (Woolmer) and it was our daily routine to sit together after a match or a training session and talk cricket. Unfortunately, on the night he passed away, we didn’t sit together because we had lost to Ireland.

“I was also looking for a duck and I was very angry with myself. So I went to my room and locked myself in. The next day I didn’t see him at breakfast and later we heard about his death,” Younis said.

Younis Khan added that the Pakistani players were “tortured” after Woolmer’s death. The players were taken to another island where they were interrogated for three days by local police.

“It was torture for us. While I fully understand the responsibilities a player has as an ambassador for his country, it should be the other way around… the authorities should also take care of us,” Younis Khan said.