Cricket Australia (CA) on Friday said Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's murder was distressing for everyone involved in the game but backed plans to continue playing the World Cup in the Caribbean.

A spokesman expressed sympathy for the Woolmer family but said the Australian cricket team remained focused on Saturday's match against South Africa.

Asked if CA supported the International Cricket Council's decision to continue the tournament, he replied: "Absolutely."

"With the news from the Jamaican police today, our thoughts at this time are very much with the Woolmer family," he said.

"This is naturally a distressing time for everyone involved in cricket. We must now allow the relevant authorities appropriate time and space to deal with their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bob Woolmer's death.

"But the focus of the Australian cricket team at this time is on their match against South Africa on Saturday -- having said that, our sympathy, condolences and support are with the Woolmer family."

Jamaican police rocked the cricket world when they revealed a pathologist had declared Woolmer, who died on Sunday at the age 58 after being found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room, was strangled to death.

The death followed Pakistan's shock loss to cricket minnows Ireland and has generated rumours that the former England batsman was killed because he was about to reveal what he knew about alleged match-fixing.

Australia's cricketers will play South Africa on the island of St Kitts and have declared themselves satisfied with their security arrangements at the tournament.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)