Related Links : World Cup 2007 : Bob Woolmer
Jamaican Police have confirmed that Bob Woolmer, the Pakistani Coach was indeed murdered! This news was first broken by a Jamaican Radio Reporter, Rohan Powell yesterday which were initially rubbished. Many cricket followers across the world were hoping that it was a natural death as this happens to be the only such incident in this history of International Cricket. According to the Cops, Woolmer was strangled to death. The Pakistani team members along with Assistant Coach and the stand-in coach Musthaq Ahmed along with the other team officials have been questioned by the Police.
The hunt is now on for the murderers involved in this well planned and executed murder. The Police believe that there was more than one person involved in the crime. This was because Bob Woolmer is a big and large personality and therefore a very powerful and significant force was required in the manual strangulation. There was also no forced entry in the Hotel Pegasus and that Bob knew his killers. The Cops have seized all the electronic data of the hotel including the CCTV records. The Pakistani team members’ finger prints were taken and it is also reported that they might undergo DNA Tests as well.
The ICC has given a statement that the ongoing World Cup would go on and they wouldn’t not be fearing such a cowardly act. They are also hoping that none of the people involved in cricket have any hand in this foul play. Woolmer had died due to asphyxia – a result of manual strangulation (less oxygen and more carbon dioxide in the body). There was also no struggle to survive from Bob Woolmer who might have even opened the door himself for his killers to enter. The death of Woolmer was confirmed at 12:14 PM on Sunday. It has been revealed that Bob Woolmer was spotted by a hotel maid even at 10.45 AM on the day of the murder. Right now the actual time of the murder hasn’t been found but it might be very close to the time his body was found in an unconscious state. The Cops have appealed for any witness to come forward to throw any light on this. It was believed to be a busy morning in the Hotel, the day after Pakistan’s defeat to Ireland, the cops saying that the hotel was completely filled up. But entry to the 12th floor in which Bob was staying was restricted for only the members of the Pakistani team and few members of the PCB. So the murderers could be some one who gained illegal entry with local influence or it could well be with the help of some one engaged with Pakistan Cricket! A Pakistani Television Channel has already stated that the Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is one individual who can reveal some clues.
Mark Shields, who is the Deputy Commissioner of the Jamaica Police is heading the investigation and he might be seeking the help of the Scotland Yard Police – believed to be the best in the business in the entire world. The Pakistani contingent had checked out of their hotel and have headed to Montego Bay where they will be staying for a couple of days. Their journey back home is due on Saturday and the Police have not ruled out either the possibility of detaining the team in Jamaica or letting them leave the Caribbean. So far there have been no suspects recognized but fingers might be pointing towards the enemies of Bob Woolmer who had feared that the coach was bringing up a novel which was going to expose their match fixing activities. Rumours are floating around that the Under World might be involved in the master mind execution. India’s most wanted Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Anees Ibrahim might be camping in the Caribbean during this World Cup for arranging Match Fixing. The World Cup might be going on but there is lot of attention that is being focused on this unfortunate incident, the first of such kind in the sport!