Woolmer’s loss of life sends shockwaves world wide

Bob Woolmer was thought-about some of the progressive coaches on the earth. Nevertheless, he was not at all times reputable however was by no means afraid to strive new methodologies to enhance the sport. 

Be it utilizing pc evaluation or making an attempt to speak together with his captain with earpieces, Woolmer by no means turned a blind eye to fashionable methods to make teaching less complicated. 

Nevertheless, in what may have been an extended, profitable teaching profession, the previous England worldwide’s life was cruelly reduce brief in the course of the 2007 World Cup when his useless physique was present in his resort room only a day after Pakistan’s shock elimination by the hands of Eire. 

Was it a homicide? Or did Woolmer die of pure causes? Whereas the paradox continues, one can not deny the truth that it was a large loss to the sport of cricket. 

Background

The 2007 World Cup had an elevated variety of matches and extra groups than another mega occasion in cricket historical past. Pakistan have been positioned in Group D, alongside West Indies, Eire and Zimbabwe. It gave the impression to be a straightforward group, the place they may no less than undergo to the Tremendous Eights with none hiccups. 

Pakistan have been in respectable kind going into the event, having received a collection at dwelling towards West Indies, drew the subsequent one in England and misplaced 3-1 simply earlier than the mega occasion towards South Africa.

Woolmer was appointed Pakistan coach in 2004. Upon appointment, the staff’s outcomes have been optimistic. It included collection ODI wins towards India in India and a house Check collection win over England in 2005. 

Nevertheless, his reign additionally witnessed numerous controversies, with the ball-tampering row of 2006, being the worst. Pakistan have been accused of ball tampering on day 4 of the fourth Check towards England at The Oval, and consequently, they have been slashed with a five-run penalty. 

The Inzamam-ul-Haq-led facet denied any wrongdoing and didn’t take the sphere after tea. Consequently, the match was forfeited and awarded to England. Nevertheless, Pakistan have been cleared of any wrongdoing later, and umpire Darrell Hair was banned from officiating any extra video games.

It’s stated that Woolmer was typically outspoken about the truth that they prayed greater than they performed, which didn’t go down effectively with many Pakistani gamers who have been extraordinarily spiritual. 

Woolmer had proven optimistic leads to his earlier teaching appointment with a global staff. He performed an important position in integrating an all-white South African staff, had taken them to the No. 1 ODI rating and have been solely behind Australia in Checks. 

The incident

Pakistan misplaced to West Indies within the first match of the event, making the matches towards Eire and Zimbabwe must-win encounters. On St Patrick’s Day in 2007, Eire did the unthinkable as they managed to beat Pakistan and knock the previous champions out of the competitors. 

By the way, there was an upset in Trinidad in addition to India fell brief towards Bangladesh and would ultimately crash out later within the event.

A day after the loss towards Eire, Woolmer’s useless physique was discovered within the toilet of his room on the twelfth flooring, the place he lay bare on his again with the partitions round him sprayed with vomit. 

Initially, it gave the impression of he died of a coronary heart assault, whereas some advised suicide. Nevertheless, the truth that there might be foul play concerned was not completely taken out of consideration. 

Nevertheless, on June 7, 2007, it was declared that Woolmer had died of pure causes, and the case was shut after session with a South African strangulation skilled. 

As a last-ditch effort, Inzamam, Mushtaq Ahmed, Assistant coach and Talat Ali, Crew Supervisor, have been questioned simply earlier than their flight departed from the Caribbean as there have been some ‘ambiguities’ of their assertion, however nothing emerged out of it.

In actual fact, seven hours earlier than Woolmer’s loss of life, he had despatched out an e-mail to his spouse stressing on how he was upset with the efficiency of the staff. 

One of many final, if not the final individual to see him alive was Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, who took the elevator with Woolmer to the twelfth flooring, the place the coach went into his room, solely to emerge out of it as a corpse.