Bob Woolmer would've taken Pakistan cricket to great heights: Younis Khan's colossal claim

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has paid a glowing tribute to Bob Woolmer, saying that Pakistan cricket would have reached great heights had the late head 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 that time, was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica just a few hours after the Men in Green's elimination from the tournament. Pakistan had exited the tournament with a humiliating loss against Ireland.

While the cricketing world was left shellshocked over Woolmer's tragic death and was sensing a foul play, it was later ruled due to natural causes. The Jamaican police had investigated the matter while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan government had also sent their own security officials to the Caribbean island.

I was very close to Bob: Younis Khan

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

He 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 against it when Pakistan suffered an unexpected loss against Ireland. On the following day, Younis Khan did not see Woolmer at the breakfast table before learning about his passing away.

"I have no doubt that if Woolmer had remained head coach, Pakistan cricket would have been very different today, and he would have taken it to great heights," said Younis on a Pakistani TV channel.

"I was very close to Bob (Woolmer) and it was our daily routine to sit down together after a match or nets to discuss cricket. Unfortunately the night he passed away, we didn’t sit together as we had lost to Ireland.

"I was also out for a duck and was very upset with myself. So, I went to my room and locked myself in. Next day, I didn’t see him at breakfast and later we learnt about his death," Younis said

Speaking further, Younis Khan said that the Pakistan players were 'tortured' after Woolmer's death. The players were taken to another island where they were questioned for three days by the local police.

"It was like a torture for us there. While I fully understand the responsibilities a player has to show as an ambassador of his country, it should be the other way round… authorities must also look after us," said Younis Khan.