ISLAMABAD, March 18: President Pervez Musharraf led tributes to national cricket coach Bob Woolmer on Sunday after his tragic death in his World Cup hotel room in Jamaica.

President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz both sent messages of condolence to Woolmer's family, an official statement said.

“President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have expressed heartfelt condolences over the tragic death of Pakistan Cricket Team Coach Bob Woolmer on Sunday,” the statement said.

“In their separate messages, they said that Bob Woolmer had promoted the cause and game of cricket in Pakistan with dedication and single mindedness,” it added.

“In their messages to his family they said Bob Woolmer's services to the game will be long remembered by cricket fans.”

Legendary allrounder Imran Khan, who captained Pakistan to their only World Cup triumph in 1992, told AFP he was “extremely saddened over the untimely death.”

“I am really shocked and I offer my deepest condolences to his family. It's very, very unfortunate,” he said.

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said he was “in shock.”

“It is a huge tragedy. We are not ready to believe this has happened,” Shoaib told a private television channel.

Paceman Mohammad Asif —who was also left out of the squad through injury and who was briefly banned alongside Akhtar after testing positive for steroids last year — expressed “shock and despair.”

“I can't believe it has happened,” he told a private television channel.—AFP