Nerve Endings Firing Away

Bob Woolmer’s death did sound suspicious and surely he wasn’t one of those individuals who succumbed to pressure. That was exactly the thought that passed through my mind when I first heard the news but didn’t want to jump to any hasty conclusions. Unfortunately, now my worst fears have been confirmed:

During a press conference in Jamaica police confirmed Woolmer was murdered – he showed few signs of struggling with his attackers – and there were no suspects.

“The pathologist’s report states that Mr Woolmer’s death was due to asphyxiation as a result of manual strangulation,” Karl Angell, the police spokesman, said. “In these circumstances, the matter of Mr Woolmer’s death is now being treated by the Jamaica police as a case of murder” [source.]

This news definitely has brought cricket especially Pakistan into disrepute. The Pakistan team was not detained and left for home earlier today. But they have been fingerprinted as a part of the investigation. But I don’t think any players must have been involved [update: The Pakistani captain, Inzamam and assistant coach & ex-player, Mushtaq Ahmed have been held for more questioning. I guess, everyone associated with the Pakistani team is a suspect now.] At least not directly. There were already murmurs of the bookies and betting cartels involved in foul play that may have led to Woolmer’s murder. I hope the guilty individual(s) are caught and dealt with harshly.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Speed confirmed that the World Cup would go on.