West Indies Team Saddened At The Passing Of Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer

KINGSTON, Jamaica - It was with shock that the West Indies cricket team learnt of the sad passing of Pakistan coach Mr. Bob Woolmer.

"The entire West Indies team is quite saddened at the passing of Bob, someone who we had high regard for as a coach, a cricketer and a human being," Team Coordinator Clive Lloyd said.

"Our thoughts are with his wife and family and we have certainly lost a great friend and colleague for which cricket would be poorer," Lloyd added.

Captain of the West Indies team Brian Lara, on a personal note, also expressed shock and great sadness at the passing of his former coach.

"My immediate thoughts are with his family and the Pakistan team and my deepest condolences go out to them," Lara said.

"I had a wonderful relationship with Bob at Warwickshire in 1994 and our relationship continued to grow over the years even though we sat in different dressing rooms," Lara said.

"He was a very focused man with a great love for the game but what shone through was the great love he had for players under his charge, everyone meant something to him," Lara said.

West Indies Head Coach Bennett King said it was a sad day for cricket and cricket coaches around the world.

"Bob was a person who had a good vision of the future and always worked towards improving cricket for both the athletes and the spectators," King said.

"He will be sorely missed because of his cricket creativity and innovations that he brought to the game," King said.