Monday, March 19, 2007

Tributes flow for Bob Woolmer

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died on Sunday, a day that the cricket-crazy Pakistani fans were baying for his blood after the shocking elimination of Pakistan from the cricket world cup. Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room just hours after his team suffered a shocking loss to rank outsider Ireland.

Mass outrage at the loss in Pakistan overnight soon turned to mourning when team officials announced Woolmer, 58, died within an hour of being rushed to University Hospital in Jamaica.

Commenting on Woolmer's death Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Naseem Ashraf said, "He was a thorough gentleman who instilled team spirit in the team. He was a very popular personality in our cricket team."

Former Pakistan cricket captain turned politician Imran Khan has said that Bob Woolmer died just because of the team’s loss against Ireland. Imran Khan blamed the captain Inzamam-ul-Haq squarely for the loss. He said Woolmer had played his part but it was uninspirational leadership that brought the defeat.


Inzamam-ul-Haq, visibly distraught after Woolmer's death, has announced his retirement from one-day cricket and resigned as Test captain. He took responsibility for the team's loss.

The passing of Bob Woolmer in Jamaica has cast a sad shadow over the 2007 Cricket World Cup . Tributes have poured in from all across the cricketing world. Read them here.

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