As the enraged Pakistani fans burnt his effigy in the streets of Multan,
screaming “Death to Bob Woolmer”, even the most maniacal would have been
repulsed to know that at that moment, in a slightly shabby Caribbean hotel
room, their wishes were being brutally granted.
With shouts for his death 8,000 miles away, Woolmer, the Pakistani cricket
coach, was being throttled during a struggle of such violence that, when he
finally lay lifeless on the white-tiled bathroom floor, the walls were
splattered high and wide with vomit, his body was surrounded by pools of
blood and excrement, and a bone in his neck had snapped.
The announcement on Thursday by Jamaican police that Woolmer had been
murdered, probably by more than one assailant whom he knew, plunged the
world of cricket in a scandal that many believe leads to the lucrative world
of Asia’s match-fixing mafia. Last night Jamaican police were focusing
closely on a possible match-fixing connection.
The police had first indicated that the Pakistan team, eliminated from the
World Cup, were free to return home. But yesterday they were informed that
they must provide DNA samples, probably delaying their departure from the
Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay.
Talat Ali, the team manager, said: “We’ve given whatever information they have
asked us about, we’ve had our interviews and they’re going to have our DNA,
and we should be allowed to take the first available flight back to
Pakistan.” Police denied a local report that two members of the team would
have to stay behind.
On Thursday, over several hours in the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Kingston, each
player was questioned and fingerprinted by police. They were then whisked
through a back door and on to a plane for Montego Bay. Some still carried
the inky residue from the fingerprint tray on their index fingers.
Pakistan’s defeat by the World Cup debutants Ireland on St Patrick’s Day a
week ago, knocking them out of the tournament in one of the greatest shocks
in its history, led to the anti-Woolmer protests in Pakistan and presaged by
a few hours the fate that was to befall the former England test player in
his 12th-floor hotel room. After the discovery of his body, the door to room
374 told its own story. At the end of a long, musty corridor in the
17-storey concrete hotel, the white door was covered in black smudges left
by the fingerprint dust of a forensic science team.
Yesterday police were studying closed-circuit television footage of the
corridor leading to Woolmer’s room in an attempt to learn who killed him and
why. Mark Shields, Deputy Commissioner of the Jamaica police and a former
Scotland Yard detective, conceded to The Times that it was proving
inconclusive.
Even if an arrest is made soon, Woolmer’s death has had profoundly damaging
consequences. The tournament is now a sorry sideshow to a murder mystery
worthy of Agatha Christie.
Conspiracy theories flourish, especially as scandal has followed the Pakistan
team for years. Many wonder why it took police four days to declare murder
after such a brutal attack.
In Pakistan, shame over Saturday night’s demonstrations has replaced the anger
among supporters whose devotion to cricket is fanatical. Woolmer’s effigy is
no longer burnt. News that he was murdered has instead prompted the building
of impromptu shrines and outpourings of grief.
President Musharraf, patron of Pakistani cricket, said that he would
posthumously award Woolmer the Star of Distinction, the nation’s highest
civilian honour.
Zafar Yaqub, 27, who works in a government audit department in the central
city of Multan, said: “When Pakistan lost to Ireland, I wanted to kill both
Woolmer and Inzamam [ul-Haq, the team's captain]. Next day, when I heard the
news that Woolmer has died, I was buried in shame. I thought I was selfish
and I even cried for him.”
Last night, 5,000 miles from Multan, Woolmer’s widow, Gill, remained in the
couple’s Cape Town home, curtains drawn, desperate to know the motive for
her 58-year-old husband’s murder.
She is in daily phone contact with Mr Shields, who is painstakingly piecing
together Woolmer’s final few hours to determine if he was the victim of an
enraged fan or, in a far more sinister possibility, was killed because he
was about to expose a match-fixing ring.
“It seems difficult to believe at this stage that it was a complete stranger,”
Mr Shields said yesterday. At the press conference in the Pegasus hotel on
Thursday night he said: “It would take some force, because Bob was a large
man and therefore it would have taken some significant force to subdue him
and cause strangulation. One or more people could be involved in this
murder.”
Police hinted that he might have been poisoned before the assault. “Mr Woolmer
ordered room service. Unless he was in some way drugged, it would have been
difficult to restrain him,” Mr Shields said. Police were expected to
announce today that Woolmer’s body would remain on the island for further
tests.
Woolmer was in the final stages of writing a book that many people believed
might contain explosive revelations after three years as Pakistan’s coach.
He was no stranger to the subject of match-fixing: in 2000 he was South
Africa’s coach when Hansie Cronje, the captain, was exposed for taking
£125,000 bribes to throw matches.
After Pakistan’s defeat on Saturday, Woolmer had said that he would sleep on
questions about his future as coach. Later he quietly conceded to a
reporter: “I am deeply hurt and I don’t know how this is going to affect
me.” He went to his room at 7pm. About 8pm he ordered room service.
At 3.12am he sent an e-mail to his wife, his last communication to her. Mrs
Woolmer said that her husband, who had type 2 diabetes, had said in the
message that he was “really depressed” by the defeat but believed that “what
happened was in the past and one had to move on”.
Mr Shields said that Woolmer was killed between 8.45pm and 10.45am the
following day, when he was discovered by a chambermaid. Near his body lay
the blood-testing machine that he used to monitor his diabetes. Mr Shields
said that results from an examination of tissue and fluid samples removed
from his body had yet to be delivered to police, refusing to be more
specific.
The Pakistan team, long one of the most dysfunctional groups in world sport,
soon lived up to their reputation. P. J. Mir, the team spokesman, gathered
journalists to describe in appallingly graphic detail the scene in Woolmer’s
bathroom.
Later he said that he had a “big announcement” to make. It was to announce the
retirement of Inzamam. Woolmer was barely mentioned.
In the lobby of the Pegasus yesterday, filled with the flags of the 16 nations
that began the tournament, the Ireland and West Indies team milled about,
waiting for buses to take them to their match at Sabina Park, Kingston.
Police in bullet-proof vests patrolled indoors.
The atmosphere was gloomy and slightly febrile. Woolmer’s death has made
cricketers, fans and journalists nervous. When a clap of thunder exploded on
Thursday afternoon, one of the tournament’s umpires sitting in the Pegasus
rushed outside, fearing a bomb. “Everybody’s jumpy,” he said. “Nobody knows
who’s telling the truth.”
Corridors of suspicion
Saturday March 17 Pakistan suffer surprise cricketing defeat at hands
of Irish. Pakistani fans burn effigies, chanting “Death to Bob Woolmer”
Saturday, 8.45pm: Last known contact
Sunday, 10.45am: Found unconscious by maid
Sunday March 18, 12.14pm: Pronounced dead at local hospital
Tuesday, March 20: Postmortem proves inconclusive, but police announce
death is being treated as suspicious
Wednesday, March 21: Former Pakistani fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz says,
“Woolmer’s death has some connection with the match-fixing mafia.” Pakistan
beat Zimbabwe by 93 runs, in a match they dedicate to Woolmer’s memory
Thursday, March 22: The Pakistani team give statements to police, as a
Jamaican newspaper alleges that Woolmer had been strangled. The police later
confirm the reports
Yesterday: Investigations continue, with police studying hotel CCTV
footage
I am simply amazed at some of the comments, which are racist, biased and based on worst type of stereotype. Bob was well respected by the Pakistan Team and much loved by the Pakistanis. He chose to coach Pakistan at much reduced salary and stayed for nearly three years, this showed his dedication, determination and popularity. All these stories of hatred towards Bob by fans and the disrespectful comments towards the Pakistani team and the country are shameful and made by people and reporters who are biased and ill informed. Those in the media should refrain from inciting such hatred and racism for their own means. Whilst I have no intention of supporting the Pakistan team, lets not forget that other teams have been implicated in Match fixings too, lets not forget that Shane Warne was suspended for supplying bookies with information or banned for drug taking, lets not forget South Africans or the Indians. Lets just be fair and not pass judgements before the investigations are over.
Noel Hague, London, United Kingdom
Bob woolmer was a really nice person & his death has been a great grief for the whole Pakistani nation.............It is stupid of someone to say that any Pakistani player or official is involved in his murder because he was loved by all & BOB WOOLMER was more dear to the nation than winning any matches..............To say that match was fixed with Ireland is entirely wrong & outragious as one can lose once in a match ,even the best........Pakistan & its people have not only lost a COACH but also a true Pakistan-lover,humble & father figure to Cricket ....So its brutal of others to throw mud on us unjustly in this tragic time...........
Warda, Lahore, Pakistan
Bop woolmer was a very nice person & the whole Pakistani nation has felt about his sudden death as his own family would have felt..........I heartly wish that his murderer is caught & brought to justice.......?If Pakistan has performed poorly once that does not mean the match was fixed or any player or Pakistani official was involved in it or in Bob,s death...............It is a simply stupid,unreal & outragious thought............
Warda, Lahore, Pakistan
when did cricket become a blood sport, when are we going to stand up for for the skills of the game...are we getting back to the dark ages.......does it take so long for an investigation to be completed...or is it the hidden agenda that the sordid show must go on at all cost - match fixing!!!!!
RADHA JOHN EAPEN, DUBAI, UAE
A humanbeing is killed in a very violent manner and he didnt do anything wrong.Whoever did this must be brought to justice and must be given maximum punishment, i am against death penality but not in this case.
Can anybody imagine one of their family members being killed like this?I hope the Western countries solve this mystery .I dont beleive in Asian countries, everybody scared of this underworld.I hope Mr Bob Woolmer will rest in peace soon.I dont have any words to say to Mr Woolmers family, let god give them enough strength to face this horrible, unforgetful situation.I dont think i can ever forget this incident, i can imagine what it will be like to Bob Woolmer's family.
shiney, Adoor,
British people burn effigies too. David Beckham etc etc.
Jenny Lewis, London,
pakistan should be banned from cricket. None of their players should be allowed to play in foreign domestic legues. This was not one or two fanatics, or a match fixing mafia. Pakistan took to the streets burning effigies of bob woolmer and chanting for his muder. Anyone of them would have killed him given the chance. Do we really need murder in cricket? Time to clean up the game.
David, Cape Town, South Africa
I'm continually amazed at how the human race altogether forgets what is important, or how we're connected to each other. How is it that a game can provoke thoughts and desires to kill another person? How can we simply continue through time and not evolve?! The inablility to step outside of ourselves is horrifying. The match/game itself has been paled. It shouldn't even matter at this point... it's been lost in more ways than one.
E. Johnson, Denver, CO/USA
As each game unfolds on TV, you could be watching it with the men who murdered Bob.
Or perhaps even more macabre - an actual player who did it.
Cancel the cup - all the money and preparations in the world world count for naught against the loss of one life.
But then perhaps this gentlemanly game has been taken over by greedy rabble who ulitmatley will preside over its demise.
Dennis, Johannesburg, South Africa
"Something is wrong in the state of Denmark," wrote the bard.
Peter Marwirtz, Ottawa, Canada
First thoughts should go to Bob's family and friends - a death is devasting, but a murder must be worse tenfold. Then for it to occur in the spotlight of media speculation is simply beyond imagination. Despite the initial outrage in Pakistan at their team's defeat to Ireland, as soon as the news came of their coaches death I'm sure all would have put aside their anger, and prayed for his soul.
People are essentially the same the world over, and sympathy should be given also to the Pakistan team and nation, as they will be grieving. A passion for sport is not only displayed in anger - in fact it is most perfectly expressed in support through good and bad times.
There will always be one or two madmen who take things too far - in this case far too far, be it for money or pride, but let's not forget that this sport has brought far more together than driven them apart. This is the spirit in which the rest of the world cup should be played.
Nicholas Mew, Leamington, UK
It speaks very poorly of the Pakistan team that neither of the two people remaining behind from the "team" are Pakistani officials. It seems the officials and players can just go home now and pretend it didn't happen.
The statement from the board that the players are "under great stress" is distasteful and an insult to Bob Woolmer and his family. The players are of no consequence right now.
Nigel Warner, Grantham, UK
The speculation about match fixing is just a rubbish and interestingly enough this nonesense is coming from the nations that have lost in the matches with the teams that had outperformed the losers like India and Pakistan.
I think the tournament should not be cancelled - rather it should be dedicated to the memory of a great cricketer like Woolmer....
Casey, Dallas, TX
Hard to believe that Mr. Woolmer did not know about Mustaq Ahmed ( a Deputy Coach,no less, and Inzamam among several other Pakistani players)being actively implicated in match fixing, a finding publicly acknolwdged by Justice Quayyum.Likewise, his claims of being surprised by Hansie Cronjes involvement in match-fixing is equally disingenous.
rameshwar, London, UK
If police describe this as Murder, I am convinced that a true Cricket Fan will never reach that extent because Woolmer was highly regarded in cricket world. A true Fan should know that Teams are required to Perform in order to acheive victory.
Somehow team did not do well, Woolmer tried!
Rest in Peace Woolmer, thank you for contribution to cricket world.
Aamir Rajan, Oakbrook Terrace, USA
I think the tournament should be abandoned in respect for Mr Woolmer and indeed as an acknowledgement that cricket is, after all only a game.
David Allen, Woy Woy, Australia
So much Speculation. So little evidence. Let's wait untill we have the facts before condemnation of any person, player, side or nation. And let's remember, cricket is only a game, or as and old schoolmaster once remarked, "It's a 'glorious' waste of time."
Des Armstrong, Brisbane, Australia
I listened to Geoff Boycott this morning disagreeing with , I think, Alan Donald's comments that the World Cup should be abandoned. Boycott is someone I greatly respect but I am not sure about this one. I would like to think that if I was a player I would make a stand and walk away from this tournament. This death is so ghastly that I cannot see how any pleasure can be derived from the tournament, let alone winning it.
john, hove, England
I want to thank Jenny Lewis from London for standing up for us. The entire Pakistani nation and the team is in a state of grief and shock. No body cares about the Pakistan Ireland match. I have cried so much myself and in the past days every body i have met or talked to has shown their grief and respect from the heart for Bob. He lived like a Pakistani and he was one of us. We loved Bob and we miss him. It is about time that the press should realize that it is not the time to spice up stories and blame anybody but act like responsible people.
Tayyaba Zafar, Islamabad, Pakistan
first may bob's soul rest in peace and may his family have the courage to face his home comming,
before facts are out we should not point fingers at any one,
it is best not to spread rumours, let the police and investigating teams do their jobs with out taking all the rumours that are floating about and the police need to let the public know why was it delayed to let the public know it was murder, after all visible marks on the neck and broken neck bone had a story to tell, and lastly its the public, who want victory every time, which is not possible and the public behave in an outraged manner if the team has a bad spell,
match fixing is a serious offense, and investigations should be carried out as to whose is the leader of it and once found out should be punished and the teams which are in cluded in the match fixing should be banned from playing international matches, all you sports lovers and sports people out there please learn to accept loosing as a part of the game
nanette, nasik, india
'If Duncan Fletcher had been murdered in Jamaica would we stereotype and blame "The entire English nation?" '
- Would the English nation, as you call it, burn effigies of its cricketers and coaches if they lose a match?
Cricket has long been blemished by the emotional outbursts of the mobs, especially in the Indian subcontinent. People in India and Pakistan have carried out riots because of either team losing a game. You could compare this to footbal riots but in no way it is the same scale. Why wouldnt the players be stressed before any game if the stake for winning a game is life?
Prashaanth, Arlington, Texas
As brutal as the killing of Bob Woolmer appears to be, it is best to reserve judgement on what might have occurred and why. It is quite easy to come up with all kinds of sordid and improbable explanations but the truth of what happened is the only thing that matters.
Nathan J, San Francisco, USA
I think people and some quarters of the press are belting out emotional nonsense that is a thinly veiled cover for their own personal prejudice, racism and intolerance towards Pakistan. The Pakistani cricket team and country don't have anything to be ashamed of and there is no disgrace on the nation. This is a sad, sad death and we don't yet know who the muderer is or what the motive was. If Duncan Fletcher had been murdered in Jamaica would we stereotype and blame "The entire English nation?"
Jenny Lewis, London,
RIP Bob
Don, San Francisco, California, AZ
one more innocent victim in respect of match fixing.match fixing lobby are getting rich while poor lose their lives.these type of teams should be banned
rajeev, kottyam, india
What i see from these comments are more of personal verdicts.Most People here just have another excuse to let out there hatred towards others, possibly our beloved coach Bob has been a victim of this extreme rage and hate. looking at the incidents in the past we should know the fact match-fixing has become a phenomenon and is virtually possible everywhere and pakistan as a nation did not invent it. The message should be clear, keep a sport as sport ,nor politics neither a gladiators arena.The spirit of cricket needs to kept alive and that was what Bob woolmer strived all his life for.So keep Bob's legacy alive.instead of spewing out hatred!
Jack stephen, dubai,
Abandoning the World Cup is nonsense. You cannot simply surrender whenever you face a difficulty. The continuation of crickets greates games is an indication that the sport is bigger than any one person, organisation or incident.
I also think that we have to keep national finger pointing out of this. To talk about putting Pakistan out os cricket is silly and xenophobic. Let's try to get to the bottom of this and then review our respective country approaches.
island man, Caribbean,
Well said Ijaz. Pakistan has been made a scapegoat in a global malpractice. The favourable comments of the late coach towards Pakistan are all in the back pages (if you can find them) and the statements of loosers like Pybus are front page stuff. Without any proof, Pakistanis have been presumed guilty!
Who knows what actually happened? The report of the pathologist is the key here. Postmortem conduction is a highly technical job. I do not know how competent this pathologist is. Strangulation, is a relatively easy finding to note, yet this chap could not make up his mind initially. Now all hell has broken loose after he has decided that it was indeed strangulation. What sort of strangulation makes you throw up and have diarrohea? Until the full reports of toxicology screen are known, and the post mortem report has not been checked by someone who knows what he is dealing with, no statement should have been made.
Sajid, London,
There is a high chance that a Team member or management is involved. Chances are, that member also brought in some outsiders with Murder being Primary motive. Rest is History.
Anything can happen, when there is blood money in the game. Its not a game anymore, it's a casino..especially in South Asia, where we treat our players like Gods.
Anon, Calcutta, India
Presumably Vanessa du Preez has a South African connection - initial impression judging from the name only. If so, she should remember Hansie Cronje was exposed for taking £125,000 bribes to throw matches.
ICC has an anti-corruption unit - let them & the police do their jobs. Anyone found involved either in match-fixing or the horror of Bob Woolmer's murder must face full force of law, but its again a shame that this is another excuse for people to wheel out their anti-Pakistan views. Btw Paul Richter - are Mark Waugh, Cronje, Azharuddin, Gibbs, Boje, Shane Warne and now Marlon Samuels Pakistani? Suggest u stop watching cricket because Canada are so poor
ijaz malik, London , UK
I agree with Hamsa from Kerala.
Ban Pakistan from playing Cricket! Then the rest of the Cricket world can play for the love of the sport.
Vanessa du Preez, Dubai, UAE
The morbid shadow that now hangs over the 2007 World Cup signifies that if the tournament continues the eventual winners will hold an empty, soiled trophy and the ICC will be stigmatised for letting the commerciality of the event overweigh basic ethical considerations. There needs to be a major review of how this sport has become entrapped in commerciality and how to optimise its unifying potential for so much of the world.
Abandon the 2007 World Cup or at least suspend indefinitely the Final to avoid a Pyrrhic victory for one team. To blithely continue with the tournament will lower history's judgement on this diabolical mess.
K Dunn, Brisbane, Australia
K Dunn, Brisbane, Australia
I don't get...It upsets me to no limit that Pakistan is the team that has lost its favorite coach, Pakistan crashed out of the world cup, Pakistans captain resigned and yet WE are being held as suspects. This is simply moronic... Pakistan should sue ICC for not providing enough security for our squad it was an ICC event where someone came in and killed OUR coach. West Indies should take the responsibility for not being adequetly prepared for the world cup event and they should be treated as an unsafe venue and all future matches should be canceled from there. Pakistani team, Pakistani fans deserve better treatment than this we need answers.
How dare any one point fingers at Pakistani team and the fans.
Even if it was some slimely low life bookie from South Asia that was involved in it by no means it should be generalized and morals of the people of Pakistan should be questioned.
ICC you have to make up for our loss you have to give us some answers.
A Fan, Pakistan/US, US
For several years there has been controversy surrounding the Pakistani cricket team. They have brought disgrace on themselves and, sadly, on their country. Murder is one scandal too far. Even if no one in the team is implicated, their behaviour over recent years has left a lot to be desired - self-dentred and insensitive. It is time the rest of the cricketing world insisted that they clean up their act, or be banned from international events.
Littlejohn, Suzhou, China
The murder of Bob is a brutal. Match Fixing Lobbey took the World Cup Cricket. I think that the failure of Pakistan, India in the World Cup is in the result of outstation play by the Match Fixing Lobbey. It is better to ban these type of teams from the major tournaments ever.
Hamsa , Cochin, India / Kerala
I find it astounding that the "sport of gentlemen" has been dragged to a new level of low thanks to this sleazy set of circumstances. I thought that Brazil soccer support was ruthless, but Pakistan has topped the charts with this display of brutality and they should be sanctioned from international Cricket. What a shame that it comes down to possible “match fixing” when Pakisatan is such a great cricket nation. Why do we even bother watching anymore.
Paul Richter, Ottawa, Canada