Pakistan captain Younis Khan on Wednesday, likened the current crisis facing the country's cricket to the trauma of being "treated like criminals".
Pakistan captain Younis Khan on Wednesday, likened the current crisis facing the country's cricket to the trauma of being "treated like criminals" after the shocking death of their coach Bob Woolmer two years ago during the World Cup in West Indies.
Younis said after Woolmer's death, his fellow players were treated like suspects and never thought they could get over the trauma. He said Pakistan cricket was undergoing a similarly tough phase post the Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan team.
"But there is always a silver lining and hopefully in the next few months when we have lot of cricket coming up we will be able to do well and restore confidence and interest of the people in cricket," he said.
"Today two years ago we lost our beloved coach, Bob Woolmer in the West Indies. At that time I didn't think we could recover from the setback but we got together again and moved on although Bob will live in our minds and hearts forever," Younis added.
Woolmer died of natural causes in Jamaica one day after Pakistan had been shocked by Ireland and knocked out of the World Cup in 2007.
Initially, Jamaica police suspected and questioned the Pakistan team members but they were later cleared to return home.
Younis said the team remembered their late coach fondly as he was committed to Pakistan cricket and was on very good terms with all the players.
"He was a modern coach and he always had new ideas. He was sincere and I think he played a role in changing some of the ways in which we played our cricket," he said.
Younis, however, made it clear that he could still not forget the way the players were treated in Jamaica and how the international media made all sorts of allegations against them without any evidence.
"It was awful to be treated as criminals because only we knew the relationship we had with Bob and how we were to him."
Younis said the Pakistan Cricket Board did a commendable job by naming the national cricket academy indoor school after
Woolmer.
"We enjoyed some big triumphs under him and he was always a patient and easy person to get along with," he added.
Younis said he was disappointed that the team would not be going to Bangladesh at the end of the month but the players would now have to start concentrating on preparing for their one-day series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai against Australia.
"We have three tough assignments coming up in next few months and we need to keep ourselves busy and in shape for them. I hope our Board later on rearranges this tour to Bangladesh as they are an improving side," he said.
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