Pakistan Players not Suspects : SKY

[786malik]

Source:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1257192,00.html

[Salman]

Players Are Not Suspects
Updated: 10:43, Friday March 23, 2007

Pakistan's cricketers are not suspected of being involved in the murder of their coach Bob Woolmer - but police believe he knew his killer.

Dr Nasim Ashraf, outgoing chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said: "The Bob Woolmer case is under investigation, but I want to make it clear that there is no suspicion on the Pakistani team."

The Jamaican deputy police commissioner revealed there was no sign of a forced entry into Mr Woolmer's room and that none of his possessions were taken.

Mark Shields said: "It seems difficult to believe at this stage that it was a complete stranger.

"It is imperative that we keep an open mind, but I have to say at this stage it looks as if it may be somebody somehow linked to him, because clearly he let somebody into his hotel room and it may be that he knew who that person was."


Mr Shields said police were going through video recordings from the hotel CCTV but so far had found no suspicious footage.

And he denied media reports that claimed a man had been arrested in connection with the murder.

Pakistan players gave fingerprints and statements to the police.

Woolmer was found dead in his Kingston hotel room last weekend, the day after his Pakistan team's shock early exit from the World Cup at the hands of minnows Ireland.

A murder inquiry was launched after test results showed he had died from asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation.

There have been reports that he was killed because he had been about to reveal match-fixing allegations.

Mr Shields would not be drawn on the motive for the murder, but said there was no evidence of any theft from Woolmer's hotel room.


However, it has been claimed that a copy of Woolmer's book manuscript was missing and that the book included details about match fixing.

Malcolm Speed, the head of the International Cricket Council, said that the World Cup would continue despite Woolmer's death.

He said former London Metropolitan Police commissioner Paul Condon was standing by and willing to assist with the murder inquiry.

Condon has been involved with helping the ICC fight corruption within the sport.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Woolmer would receive one of its most prestigious civil awards, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, or Star of Excellence, in recognition of his contribution to sport.

Mr Musharraf said: "Pakistan Cricket shall forever be indebted to his services and this nation will always remember him for the joys he brought into the lives of millions of Pakistanis."

Now speculation that part of the manuscript is missing... what next...

[Amoeba]

Ashraf has said that they are not suspects but the people who actually matter - the police haven't said anything. Misleading headline / conclusion.

[desidudecool]

no evidence of theft from his room.so that rules out a thieve.and nobody had access to teh floor they were staying in other than the people staying on the floor and the staff.it gets quite confusing.

[Sultan Yusuf]

As much as I despise Sarfraz, have to say - his statements are the biggest lead in this investigation.

At this stage I wouldn't rule out anything at all. This is just my personal feeling, but the ICC themselves seem very fishy. Not accusing anyone, but I have a hunch that may have more of a hunch.

[Nauman]

Won't rule out anything now, as soon as I start thinking it can't get any worse then this it does.

[Daoud]

Won't rule out anything now, as soon as I start thinking it can't get any worse then this it does.
Yep.
We lost to Ireland - oh it cant get any worse than this
The next day Bob dies. Well it cant get any worse than this
Few days later we find out it was a murder
No one should even begin to think it cant get worse than this

[classic]

Yep.
We lost to Ireland - oh it cant get any worse than this
The next day Bob dies. Well it cant get any worse than this
Few days later we find out it was a murder
No one should even begin to think it cant get worse than this

why not question ICC?
I read somewhere after the Oval fiasco and then Shoaib Asif case that Mr speed was looking to make hell for Pakistan and were not in his good books. :13: