BOB WOOLMER sent an e-mail resigning as Pakistan’s cricket coach just hours before he was strangled in a Jamaican hotel, write Jonathan Calvert and Richard Luscombe.

The 58-year-old was planning to retire from cricket so he could spend his remaining days with his family in Cape Town.

His resignation was e-mailed from his laptop to Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan cricket board. He wrote: “I would like to praise my association with the Pakistan team but now I would like to announce my retirement after the World Cup to live the rest of my life in Cape Town.”

His death came just hours after the team had been humiliatingly bundled out of the World Cup by Ireland, the rank outsiders.

The Pakistan squad boarded their plane last night to leave Jamaica after last-minute questioning of three of their members by police in Montego Bay.

A Pakistani player told reporters that two of the men had been asked by police why they changed hotel rooms shortly after Woolmer was murdered.

The two men questioned about their rooms are understood to have been Inzamam ul-Haq, the captain, and Talat Ali, the team manager. Mushtaq Ahmed, the stand-in coach, was asked separately about a cut on his face.

Mark Shields, deputy commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary, would not confirm the line of questioning, but said: “This is unique in that many witnesses are leaving the country and it is important that we clear up any ambiguity before they depart.”

He added: “I’m satisfied there is no reason why they shouldn’t leave the country.”

Asked whether he was sure no members of the squad were under suspicion of Woolmer’s killing, Mushtaq replied: “Inshallah [God willing], I’m 110% sure.”

Pakistani sources suggested Woolmer’s resignation e-mail was sent from his laptop to Ashraf at 6am last Sunday, less than five hours before his body was found in his room by a hotel maid.

He had earlier written to his wife Gill saying he was depressed by the defeat to Ireland but added that it was “in the past and one had to move on”.

Ashraf said that in the e-mail Woolmer “expressed his great disappointment over the stunning defeat [by Ireland]. But he still believes the boys tried their best and fought till the last to make the most of the match”.

Police may review video footage of the Ireland game after allegations that Woolmer’s death could be linked to match-fixing.

The squad were due to fly to London via Kingston, with most of the team then travelling on to Pakistan.

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