Woolmer death being treated as murder!

[Jojo]

Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room on Sunday after the team's World Cup shock defeat to Ireland, Jamaican police say.

A post-mortem examination established that the former England player had died as a result of "manual strangulation", police commissioner Lucius Thomas said.

"In these circumstances, the matter of Mr Woolmer's death is now being treated as murder," he told a news conference.

Police say Mr Woolmer may have known his killer or killers.

Mr Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious by staff at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Sunday morning.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry into his room and none of his possessions had been taken. Authorities are studying CCTV footage from the hotel.

The deputy commissioner of the Jamaican police, Mark Shields, said this might now be a hunt for more than one killer, and urged the perpetrators to hand themselves in.

"Bob was a large man. It would have taken some significant force to subdue him," he said, adding that police were ruling nothing out and had "lots of lines of inquiry".

"I have to say at this stage that it looks as if it may be somebody who's 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 told the BBC.

Mr Shields also "unequivocally dismissed" Indian television reports that arrests had been made.

"That's nonsense, as far as I'm concerned. There's actually no truth in that," he said.

The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Kingston says that Bob Woolmer's murder has stunned the cricketing world and left the World Cup in disarray.

Speculation that this may be connected to gambling cartels is only adding to the confusion surrounding his tragic death, our correspondent says.

'Resolute and strong'

On Thursday, Jamaican police questioned members of Pakistan's cricket squad over the death.

They were due to return to Pakistan on Saturday but our correspondent says it is not known if they will be allowed to leave as planned.

Pakistan team spokesman Pervez Jamil Mir said the players were "in a state of shock" over the news that Mr Woolmer had been killed.

However, the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), said the competition would continue as planned to "demonstrate that cricket cannot be put off by a cowardly criminal act".

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the entire cricket community was shocked by the death of the former England Test batsman and South Africa coach.

He said: "Everyone connected with this event will assist the police in any way possible to ensure the truth emerges."

During his career, Woolmer also coached South Africa and enjoyed great success coaching in English county cricket, winning four trophies in two seasons with Warwickshire.

[Chloe O'brien]

Its horrific to find out that he may have been murdered by someone he knows and trusts.

[Katy]

I mean it could have been anyone as they were so angry fnas after the defeat To Ireland, would be like Some part time team beating beating Man United. YOu just dont know what people are capable of. The police reckon that iot was a hired hitman and that it was not only strangulation but an overdose of drugs and drink.

Its such a shame that it has happened for the sport in general and the world cup isnt the same.

You have to feel for the team who played on, and his wife and kids. Its just not right.

[Jojo]

They also think it could have been linked to the match fixing allegations that Woolmer apparently was going to blow the whistle on too.

[Chloe O'brien]

Remember a few years ago there was a mexico football player shot dead when he came back from playing in the world cup. That was rumoured to be caused by match fixing.

[Katy]

Was that the one where two fans shot him dead after scoring an own goal.

I heard yesterday that they had arrested someone but on the live press conference from Jamaica last night they didnt reaslly say anything, it all looks a bit of a shambles to be quite honest.

[Jojo]

Investigators in Jamaica say they have recovered CCTV footage from the hotel corridor where murdered cricket coach Bob Woolmer's room was located.

Deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said they were hopeful that the footage from the 12th floor could yield images of whoever strangled Woolmer last week.

He said the tapes are now in a secure location and being converted digitally.

The news came as it was confirmed Woolmer had announced just prior to his death that he planned to retire.

Dr Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said Woolmer sent him an e-mail announcing his retirement after the team surprisingly lost their World Cup match to Ireland on 17 March.

Ashraf said: "It was the email of a man who had been deeply hurt. He said that the boys gave it their best to the last minute.

"In that email he had shared some of his thoughts, he told me that he was hanging up his boots and retiring from international coaching.

"However he told me that he would continue to be involved in cricket at the grassroots level."

Pakistan's players arrived in London from Jamaica on Monday, after police investigating the murder questioned them.

Aspects of cricket 'fixed'

Suggestions of a heated row between Pakistan cricketers and Woolmer hours before his murder have been denied by a team official.

Spokesman Pervez Mir said there was silence, not confrontation, in the wake of the defeat by Ireland.

Woolmer was found strangled in his hotel room early the next day.

Mr Shields said that the CCTV cameras were installed at either end of the corridor and that, while they did not show Woolmer's actual room, they should tell police who came in and out of the passageway.

"They are crucial as they may give us an image of the murderer or murderers of Bob Woolmer," he said.

Mr Shields said that the footage would now be converted onto a digital format so that it could be properly examined and to ensure that the original film did not get damaged in any way.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, team manager Talat Ali and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed spoke to police on Saturday.

Mr Shields said the extra questioning had been only a formality.

The squad has now landed in Britain and hopes to leave for Pakistan on Sunday night, Mr Mir told the BBC.

Rift rumours

Speaking after the squad arrived at London's Heathrow airport, Mr Mir said the players were shell-shocked by the loss to Ireland, which saw Pakistan eliminated from the World Cup.

The team has been dogged for years by damaging internal rifts and suggestions of power struggles between Inzamam and Woolmer.

However, Mr Mir denied widespread reports of any clash with the coach.

"There was no confrontation in the dressing room. There was no confrontation in the bus. In fact it was a stunned silence."

Woolmer then went to his room with a final word for his captain, telling Inzamam-ul-Haq "it is a sad thing we are parting this way".

The circumstances surrounding the defeat by Ireland have become a key part of the police investigation into Woolmer's murder.

DNA samples

Pakistan's players and management touched down in London shortly before midday on Sunday and were ushered away from the waiting media.

Woolmer's body is being kept in Kingston until an inquest is held.

Detectives in Jamaica believe Woolmer probably knew his killer - or killers - as there were no signs of forced entry into his room and none of his belongings had been stolen.

Pakistan's players had already given police DNA samples and fingerprints as part of the probe into Mr Woolmer's murder.

However, Mushtaq was confident that none of the Pakistan team could be implicated in Woolmer's murder.

"God willing, I am 110% sure [that none of the Pakistan team were involved]," he said.

Two Pakistan government officials have travelled to the island to liaise with the Jamaican authorities over the investigation.