Sitara-e-Imtiaz for Woolmer

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Karachi, Mar 23 (UNI) In recognition of late Bob Woolmer's contribution to sports, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf announced the Sitara-e-Imtiaz civil award for the coach even as Jamaican police confirmed he was 'murdered'.

While sending his (President's) condolences to the wife of Bob Woolmer yesterday, Musharraf said he and the whole of Pakistan were immensely saddened and shocked by his death in Jamaica on Sunday.

''I had the pleasure of knowing Bob personally, we found him to be a thorough professional and above all an excellent human being,'' the Pakistani president said yesterday.

''With him at the helm of coaching affairs, Pakistan cricket team enjoyed success with unprecedented consistency and the players gelled into a winning unit,'' he added.

Jamaican police revealed that the death has been caused by 'aspyxiation due to manual strangulation'.

Former England batsman Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room less than 24 hours after Pakistan's shock World Cup defeat by Ireland which led to their ouster from the showpiece event. He was pronounced dead in hospital later that day.

''Pakistan cricket shall forever be indebted to his services and this nation will always remember him for the joys he brought into the lives of millions of Pakistanis,'' he said.

''We shall greatly miss him,'' Musharraf expressed.