Discuss Bob Woolmers Death HERE only!!! - Page 5

Investigators considering other methods of obtaining evidence

Laptop reveals no clues on match-fixing so far[/B[

Cricinfo staff

March 27, 2007



'We're exploring the possibility of match-fixing, but that's only one line of inquiry' - Shields AFP



The Jamaican police investigating the murder of the late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer have analysed his laptop and have found no evidence so far of match-fixing and betting. Mark Shields, the deputy commissioner of police told a news conference in Jamaica's Pegasus Hotel all possible motives were being considered, as well as match-fixing.

"We have Bob Woolmer's computer," Shields said. "We are looking at what is on the hard drive. We're exploring the possibility of match-fixing, but that's only one line of inquiry."

Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room a day after Pakistan's shock defeat to Ireland and Shields said that the police will look into the betting odds for the match. Investigators are also relying on the footage from the hotel surveillance camera, for which Shields pointed that it would be a very time consuming process, having to study the footage frame-by-frame.

With no solid clues emerging from any source yet, Shields added that his team were considering other methods of clinching evidence such as getting DNA samples from all persons who were in the hotel at the time of murder and investigators traveling to other islands to interview players and officials for useful bits of information. The Pakistan players and officials underwent DNA testing and questioning by the police before their departure and all have been cleared of any wrong doing.

"At the end of it, it might be that we might identify a suspect or suspects," Shields said. "The reality as I've said before is that there are many potential suspects in this investigation and even more potential witnesses, and we are nowhere the stage of being able to start naming names in terms of suspects."

Meanwhile, Perviz Mir, the Pakistan team media manager, and Tasnim Aslam, the foreign ministry spokesperson, hit out at all the malicious rumours of match fixing being the primary motive for murder, saying that it had deeply affected the players, already traumatized by the events.

Cricinfo

Bob's loss hurts more than elimination - Inzamam

March 24, 2007


Inzamam-ul-Haq walks away after his final one-day innings against Zimbabwe at Kingston Getty Images



Inzamam-ul-Haq said he wanted to forget the traumatic World Cup campaign which saw coach Bob Woolmer murdered and his team knocked out in the first round.

"It's been a tournament which I and millions of Pakistan supporters would like to forget, but it won't be as easy as it looks," Inzamam told AFP by telephone from Montego Bay where the Pakistan team is staying before they leave for home later Saturday. Pakistan lost their opening match to the West Indies by 54 runs before suffering the ignominy of a three-wicket defeat at the hands of debutants Ireland to crash out of the World Cup.

The following day, Woolmer died and his death has since become the subject of a murder investigation. The Pakistan team were first finger-printed and then had to provide DNA samples. Inzamam, who also announced his retirement from one-day cricket and relinquished the captaincy of the national team, said the suffering had become unbearable.

"We failed to reach the second round and lost a great mentor who was also an inspirational figure in the dressing-room. I feel Bob's loss much more than our elimination. My heart goes out to his family and I want to assure them on behalf of the team and entire nation that in this tough time we are right behind them. I will leave the Caribbean for the last time (as a player) with a very heavy heart."

Inzamam said the team was in a good frame of mind when they came to the Caribbean despite a poor build-up during which they lost key fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif due to fitness problems. "When I landed here, I had high hopes but things changed and became so tragic that we are still struggling to cope with them. Most of the guys are still in a state of shock and when I try to talk to them, I can see their blank faces. They are physically with me but not mentally."

Inzamam, second behind Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time one-day run list with 11,739 runs in 378 internationals, said his team was still a good side despite their early elimination. "I still believe my team was good enough but we just couldn't click. I am disappointed that we failed to live up to our supporters' expectations and also for Bob who gave his heart and soul throughout his three years as coach, hoping that we could fulfill his dream of winning the World Cup."

I haven't had a chance to think about my future because events have happened so fast. But looking back at my career, I think every match that I played was worth it. I had tough times but it came in the package, I guess. I had the honour of representing Pakistan for 16 years, the privilege of playing against some of the greatest players...



Inzamam believes Pakistan cricket can recover from the World Cup trauma. "Pakistan cricket is strong and I don't believe it is in a crisis. In fact, I believe we will get stronger from here because we have good cricketing brains to put everything back on track and we have exceptionally talented players. The current Pakistan team has all the ingredients to beat any team in the world. It's just a matter of getting our act together. Over the years, Pakistan cricket has faced several crises and every time the team has come out of it successfully. That's the beauty of Pakistan cricket."

Inzamam said he hadn't yet made plans after retirement. "I haven't had a chance to think about my future because events have happened so fast. But looking back at my career, I think every match that I played was worth it. I had tough times but it came in the package, I guess. I had the honour of representing Pakistan for 16 years, the privilege of playing against some of the greatest players, being part of the 1992 World Cup squad and most importantly the respect and appreciation of the people. I couldn't have asked for more."

Inzamam also backed the organisers to continue with the World Cup despite Woolmer's death. "The World Cup is a great event and should go on despite the tragedy because we cannot allow this sport to be held to ransom by anybody. Bob would have wanted his event to be a huge success and let's make him happy by supporting the competition."

AFP

indian media is giving false and their own created stories ..please stop...

jaab result aye ga saab ko pata chaley ga... tab tak saab sabar kar lo

u know i read in Times tht some of the indian bookies had argument with him when pak lost to ireland... and they had a fight with him too... i guess those indian bookies killed him 😕 ... i will post u the info and the source soon.. 😕

Indian bookies linked to Woolmer's murder


LONDON: Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer had told his players that he had thrown out a Mumbai-based bookie from his hotel room in Kingston, Jamaica, after a 'blazing argument' on March 17, a day before he was murdered there.

'Guardian' newspaper on Monday reported that police said two unnamed Pakistani players had told them during interrogation that Woolmer, who died a day after Pakistan shockingly crashed out of the World Cup in the West Indies, had narrated to them the incident.

"A senior government official told 'Guardian' that two Pakistan players told Jamaican police that Woolmer had a blazing argument with a bookmaker based in Mumbai on Saturday night.

'Bob Woolmer said he had just thrown a bookie out of his room. He didn't give any reasons,' the official said," the newspaper wrote.

However, Mark Shields, a former Scotland Yard superintendent and now No. 2 in the Jamaican police force, was unaware of any bookmakers having stayed at the Pegasus hotel, or any suggestions of involvement of an Indian bookie.

Indian cricket officials also dismissed the allegations as 'speculation and stories', said the paper.

The investigating agencies have not ruled out anyone for the crime and, according to one police official, they are doing their job with an 'open mind'.

The Jamaica police and the anti-corruption unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are investigating, amongst other angles, the role of those involved in betting and match-fixing in the murder of the 58-year-old former England player.

The agencies are now trying to decode the footage from the hotel CCTV cameras, after having questioned the entire Pakistani squad. The team has since left the West Indies for London en route to Pakistan, except for two administrative officials who have been asked to stay back.

Pakistan lost to the West Indies and then shockingly to minnows Ireland on March 17 to crash out of the World Cup, raising the ghost of match-fixing.

"The Pakistan government on Sunday floated to 'Guardian' the idea that Indian betting syndicates were involved in the murder, citing what two Pakistan players told Jamaican police when questioned on Thursday," wrote the paper.

"A senior official said three bookies had checked into the Pegasus hotel before the start of the World Cup. But this theory was denied by Indian cricket officials, and treated skeptically by senior Jamaican detectives."

A chambermaid found Woolmer unconscious in his room, No. 374, on the 12th floor of Pegasus hotel in Kingston on the morning of March 18. He was declared dead when he was taken to a local hospital.

The investigating agencies are now trying to find if the murderer or murderers, have been captured by the CCTV cameras, fixed near the elevators and the service entry staircase on the other end of the 12th floor.

They are also questioning various other people, including the West Indies captain Brian Lara, Ireland captain Trent Johnson, Pakistan fitness trainer Murray Stevenson, another Pakistan support staff Darren Lifson and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who stayed on the same 12th floor, according to Guardian.

"Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, was also on the 12th floor until shortly before Woolmer's murder, when he moved to the fifth floor. He was questioned by police on Saturday about why he had changed rooms and told them he had wanted to be closer to the other players," the newspaper said.

"Brian Lara, the West Indies captain, has been questioned and all members of the West Indies and Ireland teams will be asked to volunteer a statement, fingerprints and a DNA swab."

The Pakistan team had been swabbed for DNA before they left.

The newspaper said that Pakistan has asked to 'send a detective to Jamaica to investigate' what it claims were links between an Indian bookmaker and the murder.

Two Pakistani diplomats from Washington are now in Kingston to act as liaison between the government and the police.

Though Shields stressed that no member of the Pakistan team was under suspicion, he said he was in discussion with the Pakistani diplomats about what would happen were he to want any individuals to return to Jamaica.