Pakistan warns over Woolmer speculation by AFP

---

Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

---

DateLine: 26th March 2007

 

Pakistan's foreign ministry on Monday asked the international media to avoid "speculation and rumours" about the murder of cricket coach Bob Woolmer at the World Cup.

 

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said rumours swirling around Woolmer's death were increasing the trauma faced by the team.

 

Her comments came after Mark Shields, the Jamaica police chief probing Woolmer's strangling at his hotel, said in an interview that he had let the team fly home from Jamaica to avoid a diplomatic row.

 

"There are lot of speculations and rumours, some of them very malicious. And we expect the media, international media particularly, to show some sensitivity," Aslam said.

 

"Our players are already traumatised. They have lost somebody who was very close to them, who was very dear to them, and these speculations and rumours do not help. They aggravate their situation.

 

"They do not help the investigations as well."

 

Investigators are studying videos from the hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, where Woolmer, 58, and the rest of the Pakistan team were staying at the time of the murder. Police have said he probably knew his killer.

 

Pakistan's players have been fingerprinted, DNA-tested and questioned by police, who called in three -- captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, caretaker coach Mushtaq Ahmed and manager Talat Ali -- for further questions before their departure.

 

Police say Woolmer was strangled in his room on March 18, a day after World Cup minnows Ireland stunningly knocked Pakistan out of a competition they had won in 1992.

 

Nagging rumors of match-fixing in connection with Woolmer's death have cast a further shadow over the sport and the World Cup, which officials said had to go on despite the killing.

 

Aslam said two Pakistani officials from its embassy in Washington were sent to Jamaica to look after the team and liaise with authorities.

 

Pakistan awaited the result of the investigation but so far there was no breakthrough, she said.

 

"As far as we know there has been not any breakthrough and investigations are taking place. We are very keen that we get to the bottom of this," she said.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)