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The police chief leading the investigation into the murder of Bob Woolmer, has confirmed that CCTV tapes are critical to the inquiry and could show the image of the killer, or killers, of the Pakistan cricket coach.
Mark Shields, the Deputy Police Commissioner, speaking to reporters in Jamaica today, said: "We are still looking at CCTV, it is pretty comprehensive. It does not show doors, it shows corridors at either end but it will at least give us a good idea of who was on those floors.
He added: "There is a tape of the 12th floor ... it is critically important because it may give us images of the killer, or killers, of Bob Woolmer."
Mr Shields said the CCTV tapes could play an "absolutley critical" part in the investigation and that was why he had asked officers to take their time and examine the tape in a secure location.
Pakistan’s cricket team arrived in Britain today a day after its captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and assistant coach, Mushtaq Ahmed, were re-questioned by police investigating the murder.
It is believed most Pakistan players will stay in London for at least one night before flying on to their home country.
Woolmer, 58, a former England player, died after being found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica last Sunday, a day after Pakistan’s shock defeat to Ireland in the competition. He had been strangled.
A former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Shahryar Khan, claimed today that Woolmer never had full control of the national side, with skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq “the unquestioned leader“.
Mr Khan maintained that while Woolmer enjoyed a reasonable relationship with the players, there was friction with Inzamam.
“There were a few confrontations [between Bob and his players],” he told BBC Radio Five Live. “But invariably Bob did not take umbrage at various players sulking or even addressing harsh words to him because they’d been left out or asked to go home from a series. Generally he had a very good relationship with the boys because he took so much trouble.
“Being a very gentle person, he would invariably go round and talk to the boys and ask ‘why are you being harsh with me’? Nearly always the boys came around.”
But despite his good relationship with his squad, Mr Khan claims Woolmer was never able to stamp his authority. “He never really had full control of the team, either spiritual or cricketing, because this lay with the captain most of the time. Bob worked around it. I kept telling him and Inzamam that for the team to succeed both he and the team needed to be united and as one .. .
“There was resistance from Inzamam and perhaps successful resistance. Inzamam was the leader, the unquestioned leader of the team. They [the players] all fell in place around him and were totally supportive of Inzamam. Bob found it difficult sometimes. If he was giving advice that may not have been accepted by Inzamam, he sometimes found it difficult. Bob felt he should have had full control of the team but in fact he didn’t."
Allan Lamb, a former England captain, said today that he believes there is still a whiff of corruption in cricket and that it would be “really bad” if it had played any part in Woolmer’s murder.
“I think Michael Vaughan probably hit the nail on the head, when he said he felt deep down there was still corruption in cricket," Lamb said. "If you have this spread-betting and gambling in cricket, it’s very hard to stop people betting on games.
“If Bob’s death was due to gambling that would be really bad.”
Asked if Woolmer might have been involved in any illegal activity himself, Lamb added: “Absolutely not. I think Bob is the last person you would ever think of.”
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