[Bendedknees]

Pakistan coach Woolmer dies

Cricinfo staff

March 18, 2007



Woolmer has been Pakistan's coach since June 2004 © Getty Images

Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, has died in a Kington hospital after being found unconscious in his hotel room hours after his side's elimination from the World Cup. He was 58.

Although Woolmer played 19 Tests for England, it was as an international coach he really made his mark, first with South Africa and then, after a spell as the ICC's High Performance Manager, with Pakistan.

Born in India, Woolmer made his mark in a strong Kent side in the 1970s as an allrounder, a pugnacious middle-order batsman and medium-paced seamer. Although his England career was just getting started when he joined World Series Cricket, like so many who threw their lot in with Kerry Packer, when he returned he was not the player he had been.

Called up to an England side in crisis in 1975, in only his second Test he staged a great rearguard innings to save his side when they followed on against Australia, holding out for 499 minutes against Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson to score 149. Although he added two more hundreds, also against Australia, World Series Cricket checked his career in 1977, and he effectively ended it forever by joining the rebel South African tour of 1981-82.

His coaching career started at Warwickshire, and he immediately made an impact as the county won a string of trophies in the early 1990s. That led to him being appointed by South Africa in 1994.

As a coach, his pioneering use of computers to show, for example, where opposing batsmen scored their runs may have stemmed from an experience of his own, batting against Mike Brearley's Middlesex. "Knowing I liked the cover-drive, he had Mike Selvey bowling at me wide of off stump, with two slips and two gulleys. In 45 minutes, I scored 12. Then I chased another wide one from Selvey and was caught at second slip."

In the 1996 World Cup, Graeme Hick was a notable victim of Woolmer's computer-based analysis, which revealed that if Hick could be kept scoreless for a spell, he tended to flick an off-stump ball in the air to midwicket. The trap was sprung by Fanie de Villiers, and Brian McMillan took the catch. Woolmer was creative and adventurous. But his coaching was based on a simple premise: the more enjoyable he could make the game, the better his players would respond. No two fielding practices were alike when Woolmer was in charge.

After a spell as the ICC's high-performance manager, he was announced as Pakistan's new coach in June 2004, and signed a contract to remain in charge until the 2007 World Cup. However, Pakistan's form leading up to the tournament was poor, and when they lost their first two matches - the second to Ireland - it appeared unlikely that his tenure would be extended. He had been mentioned as a possible successor to Duncan Fletcher as England coach.

He made 1059 runs at 33.09 in Tests, with three hundreds, and also took four wickets at 74.75. In all first-class cricket, mainly with Kent but also in South African state cricket, he scored 15772 runs at 33.55 and took 420 wickets at 25.87.

© Cricinfo

[canadagirl]

people did you see this?

Murder Suspected in Woolmer Death

Tue, Mar 20, '07


Bob Woolmer The investigation into Bob Woolmer's sudden death has taken a frightening turn with reports suggesting the Pakistan coach may have been murdered.

CaribbeanCricket.com has confirmed that West Indies cricketers were told to stay indoors and keep their room doors locked as a result of new information from law enforcement that Woolmer may have been killed at the hands of an attacker.

Mark Shields, the deputy commissioner of police, told a news conference in Jamaica late Tuesday that the death is being treated as "suspicious."

"Having met with the pathologists, our medical personnel and investigators, there is now sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Woolmer, which we are now treating as suspicious," Shields added.

Pakistan team spokesman Pervez Mir was even more blunt: "The police suspect that Woolmer may have been murdered. They have started an investigation."

http://caribbeancricket.com/

[Bendedknees]

I read it and refused to believe it until it is substantiated. If this happened it will have implication on how our security is being managed etc. We also have to be concerned on how world court of opinion will judge the Caribbean and specifically Jamaica.

[Mad Q]

I read it and refused to believe it until it is substantiated. If this happened it will have implication on how our security is being managed etc. We also have to be concerned on how world court of opinion will judge the Caribbean and specifically Jamaica.

it will be extremely bad PR for our region - that's for sure.

also the lead man for the Jamaican police is a British guy .... positive PR by them ... or pressure from the governement .... interesting times ahead.

Q

[stiab3]

it will be extremely bad PR for our region - that's for sure.

also the lead man for the Jamaican police is a British guy .... positive PR by them ... or pressure from the governement .... interesting times ahead.

Q

Depends on who the perpetrator is. If it's an insider then you can harldy blame security.
And it's not likely to have been a random member of the Jamaican public.

s3

[Bendedknees]

Depends on who the perpetrator is. If it's an insider then you can harldy blame security.
And it's not likely to have been a random member of the Jamaican public.

s3

Don't know if I agree s3. The fact that it happened will be the issue, who the perpetrator is will just separate the water from the pap. The immediate question though is whether Pakistan will play today. A report I heard this morning also indicated that CNN is reporting that according to a Pakistani official on the ground that Woolmer was murdered.

[Mad Q]

It will refelect badly upon our region that is for sure - as anything that happens in any country outside US/UK/Canada is often seen as an incompetently run country - so that is no change there ....

One report I read yesterday - called Jamaica's health services chaotic because some piece of equipment the hospital ordered was not delivered in time for CWC 07 ..... the inference being that if they had this Woolmer would have been saved - but because of Jamaican incompetence ... blah blah blah ....

We all know someone can get murdered anywhere in the world - and the last time I looked the US still has one of the highest murder rates in the world - in the UK a former KGB spy was easily murdered after detailing his concerns to the security services in the UK ... so let's be clear this could happen anywhere ... but watch and see how the media paint a bad picture about our region.

Q

[canadagirl]

It will refelect badly upon our region that is for sure - as anything that happens in any country outside US/UK/Canada is often seen as an incompetently run country - so that is no change there ....

One report I read yesterday - called Jamaica's health services chaotic because some piece of equipment the hospital ordered was not delivered in time for CWC 07 ..... the inference being that if they had this Woolmer would have been saved - but because of Jamaican incompetence ... blah blah blah ....

We all know someone can get murdered anywhere in the world - and the last time I looked the US still has one of the highest murder rates in the world - in the UK a former KGB spy was easily murdered after detailing his concerns to the security services in the UK ... so let's be clear this could happen anywhere ... but watch and see how the media paint a bad picture about our region.

Q

here is another view and speculation


Controversy
Bob Woolmer knew it all?
Cricket News / Ashish Shukla
PrintCommentMail

PORT OF SPAIN, March 21: Former Pakistani paceman Sarfraz Nawaz has little doubt that the "death" of Bob Woolmer has been a conspiracy hatched by the underbelly of cricket, the betting mafia operational in the sub-continent.

Sarfraz drags everyone in the net: From Pakistan Cricket Board to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, fellow Pakistani cricketers and even International Cricket Council (ICC) whom he describes as the fountainhead of betting mafia.

"I urge upon cricket nations to stop taking part in the ICC-held events. They are havens for match-fixers. ICC is actively promoting it," said Sarfraz.

However, what Sarfraz had to say on Woolmer's death probably overshadowed everything else.

"Bob must have seen how Pakistan team went about its business against West Indies. You could sense it from their body language that something was amiss. I believe he was writing a book and he would have come off with sensational disclosures.

"I surely feel that he has been bumped off. It was the betting mafia which eliminated Hansie Cronje. It was the same betting mafia which killed "Cadbury" the well-known bookie from Pakistan who later settled in South Africa. "Cadbury" body was cut into pieces. Now that has been the fate of Woolmer."

Sarfraz openly claimed that captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, along with Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik were involved in betting.

"Rana Naved is being regularly promoted even though he doesn't deserve a place because of his recent poor performances. When Mushtaq was reappointed I straightaway went to PCB and questioned how they could keep a "dubious character" in seat. Shoaib, everyone knows, is in league with bookmakers."

Sarfraz said, so powerful were the bookmakers that they were actually helping appoint coaches, managers, selectors and even board officials in different countries.

The former Pakistan pacemen then targeted the ICC, the seat of international cricket.

"You look at pitches played in the Champions Trophy last year in India. All of them were unduly favouring the bowlers. The same has happened in this World Cup: bowlers have a field day in the initial phase of matches.

"ICC is actually tampering with the pitches so that even a minnow can upset a top team on their day. That's what exactly happened when India and Pakistan played first against Bangladesh and Ireland."

Former Pakistan leg-spinner and captain Abdul Qadir came out in support of Sarfraz and said it was time the charges laid by the tall former medium-pacer were seriously investigated.

"Every time he makes these charges, people tend to make fun of him. I don't think that's the right thing to do. Authorities should investigate the charges laid by Sarfraz because most of the time, he is able to predict things in advance. He had said before the tournament began that Pakistan could lose to West Indies and Ireland.

"That's exactly how it happened. Authorities should investigate it thoroughly: if Sarfraz is spreading wrong stories, he must be booked. Otherwise, his leads should be carefully followed by authorities."

http://worldcup.indi...how/1785960.cms

[Bendedknees]

here is another view and speculation


Controversy
Bob Woolmer knew it all?
Cricket News / Ashish Shukla
PrintCommentMail

PORT OF SPAIN, March 21: Former Pakistani paceman Sarfraz Nawaz has little doubt that the "death" of Bob Woolmer has been a conspiracy hatched by the underbelly of cricket, the betting mafia operational in the sub-continent.

Sarfraz drags everyone in the net: From Pakistan Cricket Board to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, fellow Pakistani cricketers and even International Cricket Council (ICC) whom he describes as the fountainhead of betting mafia.

"I urge upon cricket nations to stop taking part in the ICC-held events. They are havens for match-fixers. ICC is actively promoting it," said Sarfraz.

However, what Sarfraz had to say on Woolmer's death probably overshadowed everything else.

"Bob must have seen how Pakistan team went about its business against West Indies. You could sense it from their body language that something was amiss. I believe he was writing a book and he would have come off with sensational disclosures.

"I surely feel that he has been bumped off. It was the betting mafia which eliminated Hansie Cronje. It was the same betting mafia which killed "Cadbury" the well-known bookie from Pakistan who later settled in South Africa. "Cadbury" body was cut into pieces. Now that has been the fate of Woolmer."

Sarfraz openly claimed that captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, along with Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik were involved in betting.

"Rana Naved is being regularly promoted even though he doesn't deserve a place because of his recent poor performances. When Mushtaq was reappointed I straightaway went to PCB and questioned how they could keep a "dubious character" in seat. Shoaib, everyone knows, is in league with bookmakers."

Sarfraz said, so powerful were the bookmakers that they were actually helping appoint coaches, managers, selectors and even board officials in different countries.

The former Pakistan pacemen then targeted the ICC, the seat of international cricket.

"You look at pitches played in the Champions Trophy last year in India. All of them were unduly favouring the bowlers. The same has happened in this World Cup: bowlers have a field day in the initial phase of matches.

"ICC is actually tampering with the pitches so that even a minnow can upset a top team on their day. That's what exactly happened when India and Pakistan played first against Bangladesh and Ireland."

Former Pakistan leg-spinner and captain Abdul Qadir came out in support of Sarfraz and said it was time the charges laid by the tall former medium-pacer were seriously investigated.

"Every time he makes these charges, people tend to make fun of him. I don't think that's the right thing to do. Authorities should investigate the charges laid by Sarfraz because most of the time, he is able to predict things in advance. He had said before the tournament began that Pakistan could lose to West Indies and Ireland.

"That's exactly how it happened. Authorities should investigate it thoroughly: if Sarfraz is spreading wrong stories, he must be booked. Otherwise, his leads should be carefully followed by authorities."

http://worldcup.indi...how/1785960.cms

Wow this is some serious chit!

[Bendedknees]

Here is a post repute to quote Woolmer's last email sent.

Bob's last mail speaks of life ahead
CNN-IBN | Posted Mar 21, 2007 at 09:14 | Updated Mar 21, 2007 at 18:12
Text Size: S- / S+
Digg It CommentsRSS Email EmailPrint Print

New Delhi: The last e-mail Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer wrote before his death on Sunday night doesn’t seem to suggest he was depressed.

After Pakistan’s defeat to Ireland on Sunday, Woolmer wrote the following e-mail:

"We might have to do this from afar. I don't know what is going to happen next. We will first play our game against Zimbabwe and the fly back to Pakistan. This will be give me more time to work on by book on coaching. The articles will have to be more general from now on.

Thanks

Bob

p.s: What a miserable day it has been. Almost as bad as Edgbaston, 1999!"

The time when the e-mail was sent is not known yet, but it shows that Woolmer was planning for life beyond the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Woolmer’s wife, Gil, spoke to CNN-IBN and said she received an e-mail from him on Sunday. He was upset about the loss to Ireland but was fine.

He spoke about how bad he felt after the loss and hinted that he might be sacked as Pakistan's coach. Woolmer wanted to serve out his contract with Pakistan.

He did not say anything about match-fixing. Gil also clarified that her husband had not complained about chest pain or any other physical discomfort.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his hotel room in Kingston on Sunday and declared dead in hospital later that day. His death is now being treated as "suspicious" by Jamaican police, the deputy commissioner Mark Shields told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Having met the pathologist, medical personnel and other investigators, there is now sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Woolmer which we are now treating as suspicious," Shields said.

[canadagirl]

Here is a post repute to quote Woolmer's last email sent.

"We might have to do this from afar. I don't know what is going to happen next. We will first play our game against Zimbabwe and the fly back to Pakistan. This will be give me more time to work on by book on coaching. The articles will have to be more general from now on.

if i were into conspiracy theories, I COULD posit that the above statement by Bob may substantiate what Sarfraz is claiming. This death could lead to a whole ball of wax being melted. In the meantime, and regardless of the outcome of the investigation, our thoughts must be first and foremost with Bob's family.

[canadagirl]

"We might have to do this from afar. I don't know what is going to happen next. We will first play our game against Zimbabwe and the fly back to Pakistan. This will be give me more time to work on by book on coaching. The articles will have to be more general from now on.

if i were into conspiracy theories, I COULD posit that the above statement by Bob may substantiate what Sarfraz is claiming. This death could lead to a whole ball of wax being melted. In the meantime, and regardless of the outcome of the investigation, our thoughts must be first and foremost with Bob's family.

Pakistan is saying that he was poisoned but they are not sure if it was murder or suicide. but the reporter is talking about the betting mafia.

http://www.cricketne...-poisoning.html

[stiab3]

well well well. dis hey unfolding like a real tv drama. the plot thickens . . .

s3

[Ricardo]

Anything to do with the asian teams is usually just bare drama. I find that there are usually lots of theories before the truth actually comes out.

[Bendedknees]

The Jamaican Gleaner is reporting the following story this morning:

Woolmer strangled - New twist in death of Pakistan's cricket coach
published: Thursday | March 22, 2007


Nadeem Khan, a Pakistani fan, was nearly thrown out of Sabina Park for holding up this sign inside the stadium yesterday, when Pakistan met Zimbabwe in Cricket World Cup action. The Gleaner witnessed Khan being told by Ray Foy, stadia safety manager, that his sign was unnerving people, and he should not show it anymore. During the game he sat next to the Pakistan dressing room, and Mr. Foy told him he had received enough complaints about his sign. Khan said he was just honouring Bob Woolmer's memory. - Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

A high-ranking police officer confirmed yesterday that fresh evidence has surfaced, suggesting that Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

According to the police officer, the 58-year-old Woolmer was found half naked in his room, partially wrapped in a towel.

Homicide

"A bone in the neck, near the glands, was broken, and this suggests that somebody might have put some pressure on it," the officer told The Gleaner.

"We are now treating this as a homicide."

Despite this, Assistant Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, head of World Cup security here, said he was not confirming any rumours of strangulation.

On Tuesday, an autopsy conducted on Woolmer's body by Government pathologist, Dr. Ere Sheshiah, proved inconclusive as to the cause of death.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields said then that the police were awaiting the results of the toxicology and histology analysis from Woolmer's tissue sample.

Late yesterday, however, a release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force director of communications, Karl Angell, said a second opinion was being sought.

A second pathologist

"Following consultations today (yesterday) involving representatives from the Government of Jamaica and the police, a decision was taken to seek the opinion of a second pathologist," the release said.

Meanwhile, a high-profile police team, led by top investigator, Deputy Superintendent of Police Colin Pinnock, held a high-level meeting on the ground floor of the Pegasus hotel as the investigations intensified.

The Gleaner was told that the police last night interviewed members of the Pakistan cricket team.

Initially, arrangements were made for the police to interview the players this morning before their flight to Montego Bay, St. James where they will spend two days before leaving on Saturday.

It is now unclear whether the team will be allowed to leave as initially scheduled.

Apart from combing the room in which Woolmer was found for more evidence, the police yesterday interviewed hotel staff who worked on the day Woolmer was found in his room.

The detectives also reviewed tapes from closed-circuit cameras at the hotel, which should give them clues as to who entered his room during the period in question.

The Gleaner has also been reliably informed that Woolmer was found unconscious in his room just after 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning and not at 10:45 a.m. as Pakistan's media manager P.J. Mir said on Sunday.

However Eldon Bremner, the hotel's general manager, has said the 8:00 a.m. suggestion is "grossly inaccurate" and added that he would not comment further as it was a police matter.

Yesterday Pakistan won their first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup, beating Zimbabwe at Sabina Park.

The day, despite being blessed with glorious strokeplay, was a sombre one, especially with Eagles Drum and Bugle Corp playing soft gospel music for most of the day. Many Pakistani fans held signs which sought to honour the memory of Woolmer.

The Pakistani players for the most part looked jaded and their captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, later said the last few days had been stressful for the team.

Inzamam-ul-Haq declined to field questions from the media during the post game press conference at Sabina Park. He however said the game was dedicated to Woolmer.

Meanwhile Mir, who spoke with The Gleaner after the press conference, dismissed the suggestions of strangulation as wild speculation.

"The statements of speculation which have come on Jamaican television, I'm afraid I cannot count them as accurate because ... 'the Jamaican Police Constabulary Force doesn't give us official information as to what are the causes of Bob's death," Mir said.

Mir, when asked by The Gleaner when the team will depart, took thought for a moment and then snapped "shortly".

[goldenboy]

The Jamaican Gleaner is reporting the following story this morning:

OOh the trusty Hyoid bone, one to be careful with though as the initial reports said there was evidence of vomiting, in older people if you vomit hard enough it can fracture this funny little bone, which just kind of sits there floating at the base of the neck. It is a strong indicator of strangulation but not on its own

There again if toxins such as Strycnyne had been used it may have been self inflicted also

[canadagirl]

OOh the trusty Hyoid bone, one to be careful with though as the initial reports said there was evidence of vomiting, in older people if you vomit hard enough it can fracture this funny little bone, which just kind of sits there floating at the base of the neck. It is a strong indicator of strangulation but not on its own

There again if toxins such as Strycnyne had been used it may have been self inflicted also

a pall has been cast over the games.

Pakistan's cricket coach Woolmer strangled to death, say police

March 22, 2007 - 7:07 pm

By: HOWARD CAMPBELL

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled in his hotel room after the team's shocking World Cup loss to Ireland and police are investigating it as murder.

"The official report from the pathologist states that Mr. Woolmer's death was due to asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation. In these circumstances, the matter of Mr. Woolmer's death is now being treated by the Jamaican police as murder," Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said in a statement that was read by a police spokesman Thursday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Woolmer was killed in his hotel room on Sunday.

"There is an ongoing murder investigation into the death of Robert Woolmer and as a result the security arrangements at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel are a part of those investigations," Owen Ellington, assistant police commissioner, said in a statement. He declined to elaborate.

Pakistan cricketers were finger printed and interviewed by police at the hotel Thursday and later left for the northern resort of Montego Bay. The team will leave Saturday for Lahore, Pakistan, via London.

Team spokesman Pervez Jamil Mir said the players were stunned and shocked at the murder.

Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields said the Pakistan players have pledged full co-operation whether they are in the Caribbean island or back home in Pakistan.

No arrests have been made and there are no suspects in the case.

"It is our belief that those associated with or having access with Mr. Woolmer may have vital information to assist this inquiry," Thomas said.

Shields said "it would take some force, because Bob was a large man."

"We don't know at this stage how many people were in the room - it could be one or more people that were involved in this murder."

Woolmer, 58, was found in his hotel room by cleaning staff and pronounced dead later Sunday in hospital.

Former Pakistani player Sarfraz Nawaz said on Tuesday that he believed Woolmer was killed by gambling interests he was going to expose in a book, although he had no proof.

Woolmer was South Africa's coach in the 1990s when the team's captain, Hansie Cronje, admitted taking money to fix matches and was banned for life. Woolmer was never implicated.

His widow, Gill Woolmer, said her husband had not recently mentioned anything about match fixing.

Lord Paul Congdon, head of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit, will investigate if corruption played a role in Woolmer's death, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

The Jamaican police have also been in contact with the ICC anti-corruption unit, said police spokesman Karl Angell.

Earlier Thursday, Assistant Police Commissioner Les Green, formerly of Scotland Yard, said the team was fingerprinted as part of standard procedure "to eliminate persons from fingerprints which would be found in the room.

"After a thorough investigation, fingerprints not belonging to Mr. Woolmer were found in the room," he told The Associated Press.

Speaking on British TV before the police announcement, Gill Woolmer had not ruled out that her husband was murdered.

"I mean some of the cricketing fraternity, fans are extremely volatile and passionate about the game and what happens in the game, and also a lot of it in Asia, so I suppose there is always the possibility that it could be that (murder)," she told Sky Sports in an interview from her home in Cape Town, South Africa.

"It fills me with horror," she said. "I just can't believe that people would behave like that or that anyone would want to harm someone who has done such a great service to international cricket."

The murder investigation announcement happened just after 5 a.m. in Pakistan, where TV broadcasters ran news alerts along the bottom of the screens.

The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, citing an unnamed high-ranking police officer, had reported in its Thursday edition that authorities found a bone broken in Woolmer's neck. The Jamaica Observer newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported that Woolmer's body had marks on the throat and that bones in the lower part of his face were broken.

When Shields was asked about the condition of the body, he declined to comment.

"There are some issues surrounding marks on his body, but for the moment I would rather we stick to the cause of death, which is asphyxia," he said.

Britain's Scotland Yard has offered its help, but Jamaican authorities have yet to make a decision on that proposal.

On Wednesday, a forensics team spent hours combing Woolmer's room on the 12th floor and reviewing security cameras from the hotel in Kingston.

Pakistan played its last match at the World Cup on Wednesday, the team rallying around Inzamam-ul-Haq to ensure the captain's last match was a proper tribute for Woolmer and not another debacle.

"We dedicate this game to Bob because he was a wonderful person," Inzamam said. "He's not in this world now and every Pakistani and every cricket lover is sad."
Sport Archive Send to your friends

http://www.news1130....ntent=s0322103A

[canadagirl]

a pall has been cast over the games.

Pakistan's cricket coach Woolmer strangled to death, say police

March 22, 2007 - 7:07 pm

By: HOWARD CAMPBELL

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled in his hotel room after the team's shocking World Cup loss to Ireland and police are investigating it as murder.

"The official report from the pathologist states that Mr. Woolmer's death was due to asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation. In these circumstances, the matter of Mr. Woolmer's death is now being treated by the Jamaican police as murder," Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said in a statement that was read by a police spokesman Thursday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Woolmer was killed in his hotel room on Sunday.

"There is an ongoing murder investigation into the death of Robert Woolmer and as a result the security arrangements at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel are a part of those investigations," Owen Ellington, assistant police commissioner, said in a statement. He declined to elaborate.

Pakistan cricketers were finger printed and interviewed by police at the hotel Thursday and later left for the northern resort of Montego Bay. The team will leave Saturday for Lahore, Pakistan, via London.

Team spokesman Pervez Jamil Mir said the players were stunned and shocked at the murder.

Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields said the Pakistan players have pledged full co-operation whether they are in the Caribbean island or back home in Pakistan.

No arrests have been made and there are no suspects in the case.

"It is our belief that those associated with or having access with Mr. Woolmer may have vital information to assist this inquiry," Thomas said.

Shields said "it would take some force, because Bob was a large man."

"We don't know at this stage how many people were in the room - it could be one or more people that were involved in this murder."

Woolmer, 58, was found in his hotel room by cleaning staff and pronounced dead later Sunday in hospital.

Former Pakistani player Sarfraz Nawaz said on Tuesday that he believed Woolmer was killed by gambling interests he was going to expose in a book, although he had no proof.

Woolmer was South Africa's coach in the 1990s when the team's captain, Hansie Cronje, admitted taking money to fix matches and was banned for life. Woolmer was never implicated.

His widow, Gill Woolmer, said her husband had not recently mentioned anything about match fixing.

Lord Paul Congdon, head of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit, will investigate if corruption played a role in Woolmer's death, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

The Jamaican police have also been in contact with the ICC anti-corruption unit, said police spokesman Karl Angell.

Earlier Thursday, Assistant Police Commissioner Les Green, formerly of Scotland Yard, said the team was fingerprinted as part of standard procedure "to eliminate persons from fingerprints which would be found in the room.

"After a thorough investigation, fingerprints not belonging to Mr. Woolmer were found in the room," he told The Associated Press.

Speaking on British TV before the police announcement, Gill Woolmer had not ruled out that her husband was murdered.

"I mean some of the cricketing fraternity, fans are extremely volatile and passionate about the game and what happens in the game, and also a lot of it in Asia, so I suppose there is always the possibility that it could be that (murder)," she told Sky Sports in an interview from her home in Cape Town, South Africa.

"It fills me with horror," she said. "I just can't believe that people would behave like that or that anyone would want to harm someone who has done such a great service to international cricket."

The murder investigation announcement happened just after 5 a.m. in Pakistan, where TV broadcasters ran news alerts along the bottom of the screens.

The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, citing an unnamed high-ranking police officer, had reported in its Thursday edition that authorities found a bone broken in Woolmer's neck. The Jamaica Observer newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported that Woolmer's body had marks on the throat and that bones in the lower part of his face were broken.

When Shields was asked about the condition of the body, he declined to comment.

"There are some issues surrounding marks on his body, but for the moment I would rather we stick to the cause of death, which is asphyxia," he said.

Britain's Scotland Yard has offered its help, but Jamaican authorities have yet to make a decision on that proposal.

On Wednesday, a forensics team spent hours combing Woolmer's room on the 12th floor and reviewing security cameras from the hotel in Kingston.

Pakistan played its last match at the World Cup on Wednesday, the team rallying around Inzamam-ul-Haq to ensure the captain's last match was a proper tribute for Woolmer and not another debacle.

"We dedicate this game to Bob because he was a wonderful person," Inzamam said. "He's not in this world now and every Pakistani and every cricket lover is sad."
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http://www.news1130....ntent=s0322103A

from India Times

Was Dawood involved in Bob's death?
TIMES NEWS NETWORK / Chandresh Narayanan
PrintCommentMail

PORT OF SPAIN, March 23: The first autopsy report on Bob Woolmer was inconclusive and the police has decided to seek the opinion of a second pathologist, an expert from the US.

The theory that bookies are behind Woolmer's possible murder continues to gain currency. Former Pak fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz had earlier charged a betting ring with the crime.

Now jailed don Babloo Shrivastava has said on TV that Dawood Ibrahim has staked about Rs 400 crore in cricket betting and could be involved in the crime. Reports in Pakistan claim that five bookmakers flew to the Windies prior to the World Cup in an attempt to fix games in Pakistan's group.

They were supposedly targeting the game against Ireland and West Indies, both of which Pakistan lost. British tabloid Daily Mirror said detectives were trying to discover whether there were huge bets laid on Pakistan losing the game.

"They have contacted the ex-Scotland yard boss, Lord Condon, who has probed cricket corruption, for advice," the newspaper said.

On Thursday, investigators searched Woolmer's room on the 12th floor of the Pegasus Hotel for fresh clues. Police also reviewed the hotel's CCTV footage of activity in the corridors on floors occupied by guests.

The Gleaner also claimed to have reliably learnt that Woolmer was found unconscious in his room just after 8.00 am Sunday morning and not 10.45 am as Pakistan's media manager Pervez Mir had earlier said.

This is the third time that a murder has taken place inside the Pegasus in the last two years.

In January 2005, 23-year-old Air Jamaica flight attendant Wayne Brown was found naked and dead with 10 stab wounds and hands and feet bound. A US national was also found murdered in his hotel room in December 2005.

Sarfaraz claimed bookies were manipulating results and that five members of the squad were involved. "Bob must have seen how the Pak team went about its business," he said.

"You could sense it from their body language. I believe Bob was writing a book and he would have come out with sensational disclosures."
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[Bendedknees]

All I can say is geeze!

[goldenboy]

All I can say is geeze!

Its all happening isnt it, who would have thought it some one being murdered in Jamaica, sorry couldnt resist that.

Havent read one report yet blaming the WI's or poor security, spose thats to come