VARIOUS: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer dies following defeat

Cricket world mourns the unexpected death of Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer after he was discovered unconscious in his hotel room one day following his team's defeat at the hands of Ireland. Tributes were led by the head of the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council's chief executive, Malcolm Speed. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died aged 58 on Sunday (March 18) after being found unconscious in his hotel room the morning after his side's shock World Cup exit, the team announced. "Robert Andrew Woolmer has passed away today and the entire Pakistan team and management are shocked and saddened by his passing," team spokesman Parvez Mir said reading a statement. Woolmer had seen his team crash out of the World Cup on Saturday (March 17) after a shock Group D defeat by debutantes Ireland at Sabina Park. "There will be a coroner's inquest and in keeping with Jamaican law an autopsy will take place into his death," said Mir. Although Mir declined to confirm the cause of death or if Woolmer had died in his hotel room or hospital, he added: "Hotel staff found him about 1030. The doctors came in and looked at him." Leading cricketing figures expressed their shock on Sunday (March 18) after the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. The 58-year-old former test batsman was one of the most respected figures in the world game and it had been suggested he could take over as England coach once his contract expired with Pakistan in June. Woolmer's Pakistan team crashed out of the World Cup less than 24 hours before his death by losing to debutantes Ireland at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. The tributes were led by the head of the sport's governing body, International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed. "On behalf of the ICC and Bob's thousands and thousands of friends within cricket, I wish to express my very sincere condolences to Mrs Woolmer and the family on Bob's very untimely passing," he told a news conference in St Lucia during England's match with Canada. Woolmer worked for the ICC as a coach to the minor nations, including Ireland, between 2001 and 2004. Woolmer, who had a distinguished career as a coach, appeared to take the defeat by Ireland in his stride following the match.

ITN Source | March 19, 2007

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