Woolmer remembered on third death anniversary

Former Pakistan cricketers on Thursday paid tribute to coach Bob Woolmer, whose tragic death during the ODI World Cup in the West Indies exactly three years ago had left everybody stunned.

Former Pakistan cricketers on Thursday paid tribute to coach Bob Woolmer, whose tragic death during the ODI World Cup in the West Indies exactly three years ago had left everybody stunned.

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Woolmer died on March 18 just a few hours after Pakistan's shocking defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland and elimination from the mega-event.

"What happened was tragic. Bob's death came as a big shock for all of us even before we could recover from the defeat to Ireland," former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed said.

Initially the Jamaican police had said they were probing a murder case but after three months they announced that the former England cricketer had died of natural causes.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was the Pakistan captain in the World Cup and worked closely with Woolmer, said that the period spent in Jamaica after Woolmer's death was the worst of his life.

"We were treated like murder suspects and all sorts of accusations were made without anyone realising how close the players were to Woolmer," Inzamam said.

"We worked as a team with Woolmer and there is no doubt that he was one of the best coaches I have seen in my career," he added.

Danish Kaneria, who was a member of the World Cup squad, said that there was no doubt that Woolmer's "shocking" death left the players shattered.