|
MYSTERY surrounds the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer a
day after his disgraced team was bundled out of the World Cup.
 The
former English Test batsman was found by a maid on the floor in his bathroom of
his Jamaica hotel room surrounded by vomit and frothing at the mouth.Woolmer,
58, died in hospital two hours later.
Police ordered an urgent inquest as rumours swept the Caribbean that Woolmer
may have been poisoned or committed suicide.
Officials last night would not comment on a report in the London’s Daily
Mirror newspaper claiming he died of a combination of alcohol and prescription
drugs.
But son Russell said his father may have died from a stress-related heart
attack.
“We’ve been speaking to the doctors and they think it is either stress or
a heart attack,” Russell Woolmer said.
“There was a lot of stress in his job and it may have been stress that
caused it. We’re all very shocked and we don’t know what to do.”
Suggestions that Woolmer was poisoned by an irate Pakistani fan seem unlikely
but will not be ruled out until the post mortem.
After the shock defeat by Ireland, he returned to his room about 8.45pm and
stayed there. He ordered room service, which would appear to be the only avenue
for foul play in the 12 hours before he was found near death.
Renowned as a big eater, Woolmer had no history of heart problems though a
year ago was diagnosed with high cholesterol and lost 17kg in nine months
through swimming and exercise.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq told of seeing his coach dying on the hotel
floor.
“When I went to see him he was lying on the floor and it was shocking for
me,” he said.
In Pakistan, grief replaced anger as the news of Woolmer’s death spread.
After 24 hours of burning effigies and mock burials for the team, many changed
their tune.
“Bob Woolmer’s death has saddened us. He took the responsibility for the
team’s defeat very seriously and that led to his death,” fan Munir Akhtar
Langah said.
Former captain Javed Miandad, who was replaced by Woolmer as coach in 2004,
said he believed “Pakistan’s shocking defeat against Ireland has a lot to do
with his death”.
Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal said Woolmer was so committed to the
Pakistan team that he could not take the shock of defeat. “He was a very nice
and humble person,” he said.
World Cup teams will wear black armbands during their next round of matches
as a mark of respect for Woolmer.
His death overshadowed a tumultuous weekend of cricket.
Ashes star Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the England’s vice-captaincy
after he was rescued from the sea on Saturday morning following a drinking
session.
Defending champion Australia thrashed the Dutch but captain Ricky Pointing
said the result was of little consequence after Woolmer’s death.
“We played a game of cricket,” Ponting said.
“When something like this happens it certainly rams home that there are
other things around you all the time happening.”
<<< Back
|
