Adil Najam
Robert (Bob) Andrew Woolmer, most recently the Head Coach for the Pakistan cricket team died of a massive heart attack in Jamaica earlier today. He was born on May 14, 1948, in Kanpur India, played 19 tests and 6 one day internationals for England and was amongst the first in a generation of ‘super coaches’ in international cricket.
His tenure as Pakistan’s cricket coach was a particularly tumultuous one, especially recently. Its lowest point was yesterday when Pakistan – under his coaching – lost miserably to Ireland. This was a massive blow for the Pakistan team, people and obviously for Bob Woolmer. The massive heart attack he suffered today ultimately took his life.
According to BBC News:
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has died after being discovered in his Jamaica hotel room on Sunday morning. The 58-year-old former South Africa coach, who played for England between 1975-81, was found unconscious at the Pegasus Hotel at 1045 local time.
He was taken to the emergency ward of the nearby University hospital but did not regain consciousness. Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday after losing by three wickets to minnows Ireland. Woolmer told BBC Radio Five Live after the Ireland match that he was considering his future in the game.
“My contract runs out on 30 June anyway but I want to sleep on it before I make a decision about my future,” he said on Saturday evening. “I have said I am reluctant to continue in international cricket purely because of all the travelling but I will stay in cricket at a different level. “But I think the decision has been made for me really. I will talk to the PCB and if they want me to stay until 30 June I will stay, if they want me to go I will go.
“I am not going to break my contract but if the PCB want to get rid of me that is their business.” Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup have been far from ideal, which Woolmer also alluded to. Following the infamous forfeited Test against England at The Oval last summer, two of their leading fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, were suspended after failing doping tests.
A great loss to cricket. The pair later saw those bans rescinded but missed the World Cup because of injury, something Woolmer admitted had hindered the team. “There are a number of extenuating circumstances in the last six months that have made coaching Pakistan slightly different to normal sides,” he said. “Those are the things I would have to consider and those things would have to change if I was to continue.”
According to an Associated Press report on reaction in Pakistan:
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Naseem Ashraf said Bob Woolmer’s death was a “a loss for the cricketing world.” “He was a thorough gentleman who instilled team spirit in the team,” Ashraf told Pakistani private channel Geo Television. “He was a very popular personality in our cricket team.”
Ashraf said Woolmer had informed him that he had breathing problems during sleep at night and was also diabetic. “He informed me this just before the team departed for the West Indies and I told him ‘take care of yourself Bob’,” Ashraf said. “But Woolmer told me it was nothing new for him as he wore mask during sleeping.” Ashraf said that when he spent some days in Jamaica with the team, he thought Woolmer was perfectly alright.
“I am very sad and I think he took stress after Pakistan lost to Ireland,” said former test cricketer Hanif Mohammad. Pakistan’s injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who was sidelined for the World Cup, described Woolmer’s death as a “big tragedy.” “I am very sad,” Akhtar told Geo television. “It’s a very big tragedy and I am completely in a shock.
“Before leaving for the West Indies, we met each other, we both hugged each other and we shared lots of thoughts. “He used to call me ‘Son.’ My whole sympathies are with his family.” Akhtar, under a doping cloud after testing positive for nandrolone last year, has long struggled with how to manage his express pace and avoid injuries. “I have learnt a lot from him. He tried his best to coach us professionally,” Akhtar said. “He was very fun-loving and I can’t believe he could pass like that.”
Former coach Javed Miandad, Woolmer’s immediate predecessor as coach, said that the former England test batsman tried his best for the Pakistan team. “It’s shocking news and I am very sad too,” Miandad said. “I have played cricket with him in the Kerry Packer era and when he took over I hosted him at home and informed him about the Pakistan team.”
Next Update from Police on Thursday.
Another troubling development. Poison traces found in hotel room…
Jamaican Police on Wednesday confirmed that poison traces have been found in deceased Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer’s hotel room. The information lends credence to the apprehensions that the Pakistan coach was murdered. Woolmer`s preliminary post-mortem report on Tuesday had proved inconclusive. Toxicology and other forensic tests were carried out by the medical and police teams.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team players are being questioned about their whereabouts at the time of Woolmer’s death. Pakistan physio and trainer are also being interrogated.
Geo Television has also reported that there was information that Woolmer might have been murdered.
Incidentally, on Tuesday, former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz had claimed that Woolmer had been murdered. Nawaz, said that he was sure the match-fixing mafia was behind Woolmer`s death.
It is indeed surprising that the Jamaican Police have chosen to be vague in their responses and have provided few facts for all of us to come to a reasonable conclusion about Woolmer’s death. If they are doing this for investigative reasons, it is understandable, but almost 4 days after his death, we know very little. There are few if any leaks from the investigation and no one has been investigated or arrested. There were reports that he was strangulated and marks were seen on his neck,but one is able to verify or confirm this. One more issue that came up is that the Pakistani squad has been asked to stay in town until Saturday, when their last game ends today. Why? I really feel for the players and the kind of pressure they are under. They don’t deserve this at all. What is also not clear is, and this is going to sound very terrible – are any of our players under a cloud? All of this is speculation amidst reports that the manager of the Pakistani team appeared alongside the Jamaican DCP at the press conference, which makes me quite nervous to say the least.
I saw the breaking news on Geo and I think it was really irresponsible of them to come out and say that it was a murder right away. “Suspicious” does not mean murder and I reckon that nothing of this sort will be found once the investigation is complete.
I WOULDNT BE SURPRISED IF ALL THIS LEADS TO A MATCH FIXING SCAM.
Most recent update.. It is now official. The police are now treating this as a murder investigation according to our own team manager. This is a very troubling development indeed, and this is going to sound very terrible – not a good omen for Pakistan.
All the initial reports that he was found in a pool of vomit etc may have been utter fiction. I think it was irresponsible of us to have ‘assumed’ that he died of a heart attack, when no official ever confirmed that to be the cause of death. As usual, the media and the bloggers jumped to conclusions without waiting for the official news. My question is, if someone died of natural causes, where is the need for a post mortem?
Woolmer death ‘suspicious’
The police suspect that Woolmer may have been murdered.
Murdered? …. Bob Woolmer.
The death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer at the World Cup is being treated as suspicious, a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said today.
“The police suspect that Woolmer may have been murdered,” PCB spokesman Pervez Mir told AFP. “They have started an investigation”
Mark Shields, the deputy chief constable of the Jamaican police force, confirmed that the death was being treated as suspicious.
“The post-mortem into the death of Mr Woolmer was inconclusive,” he said.
“But having met with the pathologists and other medical personnel, there is sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances of Woolmer’s death which is now being treated as suspicious.
“We have already informed the Woolmer family of this development and we are also in close contact with the Pakistan team management, Cricket World Cup and the ICC to ensure that all the parties are kept informed of the ongoing investigation.”
Woolmer, 58, died in hospital on Sunday after being found unconscious in his hotel room in Kingston.
His death came a day after Pakistan, the former world champions, had been knocked out of the World Cup by Ireland.
Mir said the Pakistan team are considering whether to play their final World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Kingston on Wednesday.
“This is something to be readdressed. We will be discussing it with the players, the team and the ICC,” he said.
Findings from a post-mortem examination were “inconclusive” and further tests were being carried out, the PCB said.
The death has rocked the tournament. Woolmer, a former England Test batsman, a diabetic, was regarded as one of the premier coaches in the world but the position with cricket-crazy Pakistan was one of the most pressurised in the sport.
Mark Shields, deputy commissioner of the Jamaican police constabulary (crime division), said that the body could not be released until the pathologist had completed his examination.
“We can’t rule anything out. It’s our position to investigate. We have to wait for the pathologist to provide a report which will go to the coroner. From that, we will know what action we will take next,” he told the news conference.
“If there are no results we will not be able to release the body unless the coroner gives his authority.
“In a case like this I would think the pathologist would want to be absolutely sure and so I see nothing unusual in that.
“He wants to make sure that whatever his findings are they are accurate. Therefore conducting further tests is quite legitimate and sensible in these circumstances.
“I know that the scientists are treating it with the utmost urgency in order that we can hopefully repatriate the body to his family as soon as possible.”
Asked when the scientists’ conclusions would be available, Shields replied:
“I just know they are working as quickly as possible to provide the information that we need. I hope it’s today but it could be tomorrow.”
The police had earlier said Woolmer died in hospital at 1214 (1714 GMT) on Sunday.
Pakistan face a final match in Group D against Zimbabwe at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday before flying home on Saturday.
They have lost both their matches so far and the defeat by Ireland was the biggest shock so far in the event.
Mir said the intention was that the body would be returned to Woolmer’s family in Cape Town via London.
AFP, Reuters