KARACHI, Oct 3: Pakistan’s ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has apologised for remarks about national coach Dav Whatmore that triggered controversy and threatened their relationship.

In an interview with a local television channel on Tuesday, Saeed spoke of the language barrier between Whatmore and the players and said former coach Waqar Younis had handled the side better.

Whatmore, who was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in Australia, said on Wednesday on Twitter he was “deeply upset and hurt” by the comments from Saeed, one of his senior players.

The 59-year-old coach later tweeted that Saeed had apologised to him in person and he had accepted it.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), keen to avoid any disruptive controversy ahead of a difficult series in the UAE against South Africa, then issued a detailed apology from Saeed.

“I immediately went up to Dav and apologised and explained the context and circumstances in which I made certain remarks,” Saeed said in a PCB statement released late Wednesday.

“Dav has worked tirelessly with the Pakistan team and it would be extremely unfair not to recognise his services. I enjoy very good relations with Dav and am hopeful of continuing this in the coming series.”

Whatmore has been under pressure following Pakistan’s embarrassing Test defeat against Zimbabwe last month and faces the daunting prospect of tackling world number one Test side South Africa in two weeks’ time.

Numerous former Pakistani players have gone on record saying the side would be better off with a local coach.—AFP