Pakistan legends stunned by Woolmer suspicions by AFP

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Player:	RA Woolmer
Event:	ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 21st March 2007

 

Former Pakistani legends Imran Khan and Ramiz Raja said Wednesday they were dismayed after police in Jamaica said they were treating the death of national coach Bob Woolmer as suspicious.

 

The suggestion is the latest shock for this cricket-obsessed nation, following Woolmer's death on Sunday at the World Cup and Pakistan's ignominious exit at the hands of part-timers Ireland less 24 hours earlier.

 

"We really need to know what is behind it. I think they have to get to the bottom," former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Imran Khan told AFP after the latest news.

 

"This just adds to the whole tragedy and especially for Bob's family," added Khan, who remains a hero here for leading Pakistan to their only World Cup triumph in 1992.

 

"I still assume he died of natural causes because he was a diabetic and that is closely associated with heart attacks."

 

The deputy chief commissioner of the Jamaican police force, Mark Shields, said Tuesday that the post-mortem into Woolmer's death was inconclusive.

 

"But having met with the pathologists and other medical personnel, there is sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances of Mr Woolmer's death, which is now being treated as suspicious," Shields said.

 

Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Pervez Mir said investigators were looking at the possibility of foul play. "The police suspect that Woolmer may have been murdered," Mir told AFP.

 

Another former Pakistan skipper, Ramiz Raja, said he hoped any suspicions would be laid to rest quickly.

 

"It is very unfortunate that the death is being treated as supicious. It adds another twist to the tale, which is more unfortunate," Raja told AFP by telephone from the West Indies, where he is working as a commentator.

 

"Let's hope for the sake of cricket that the matter is solved and they put to rest any suspicion quickly."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)