Pakistan’s World Cup team finally left for home, landing en route in London early evening India time on Sunday. Their departure was preceded by more drama — manager Talat Ali, assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed and captain Inzamam-ul Haq were called in for another round of questioning.
This followed after it emerged Ali had moved out of his 12th floor room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel the night after coach Bob Woolmer was murdered, and moved into a different one five floors above under the false name of ‘Newman’. Investigators reportedly told him to explain, and asked assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed why he had a cut on his nose.
According to the reports, Ali replied: “Because I was scared”, and Mushtaq said he had suffered the cut after a ball hit him in a warm-up session before the Ireland game.
Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields said the questioning was “standard procedure”. The probe, he said, was “ahead of the game”.
On Sunday, police were sifting through security video footage for clues. Shields said they were particularly interested in a tape from the 12th floor, where Woolmer's room was located.
Shields also confirmed the probe was looking into the match-fixing angle, and the possibility that Woolmer might have been killed because he was about to blow the whistle on the racket. He was quoted in the British media as saying the odds on the Pakistan-Ireland game had been suspicious.
{{/usCountry}}Shields also confirmed the probe was looking into the match-fixing angle, and the possibility that Woolmer might have been killed because he was about to blow the whistle on the racket. He was quoted in the British media as saying the odds on the Pakistan-Ireland game had been suspicious.
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