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 30 August 2008 04:53 BST

ICC: World Cup will go on

Friday, 23 Mar 2007 10:26
Woolmer's murder has shocked the sporting world
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said the World Cup will continue despite revelations that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was murdered.

Jamaican police have indicated Woolmer died as a result of "manual strangulation", with the news throwing the showpiece sporting event into controversy.

With details continuing to emerge and a swirl of speculation surrounding the events of last weekend when the Pakistan coach was found unconscious in his hotel room, the ICC has sought to make clear the competition will continue.

Chief executive Malcolm Speed described the "wave of sadness" which he said had "washed over the whole of the cricket community", adding that news the death was being treated as murder had shocked everyone involved with the sport.

However, he said he felt it was inappropriate to comment further while the investigation continued and argued it should not mean the end of the World Cup.

"This is not the first time that tragedy has visited a sporting event but what we must all do now is to show how resolute the game is by proving ourselves strong enough to move on from what has happened," he said.

"The best way to do that is for the teams that remain in the tournament to play out a great ICC Cricket World Cup, something that will help put the smile back on the face of our great sport.

"By doing that we will demonstrate that cricket cannot be put off by a cowardly criminal act."

Mr Speed went on to say he felt a rousing end to the World Cup would be a "fitting tribute to Bob Woolmer and the contribution he has made to our sport as a fine player and an outstanding coach at all levels".

Meanwhile the World Cup's managing director, Chris Dehring, said security arrangements had been reviewed and officials had sought to reassure teams about their safety at the game.

Nevertheless, the shocking murder of the 58-year-old at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston looks set to cast a shadow over the tournament, with details continuing to emerge surrounding the event amid speculation it may have been linked to match-fixing or corruption.

Former Proteas fast bowler Allan Donald was among those who felt the tournament should not go on.

A player during Woolmer's tenure as coach of South Africa, Donald was a adamant the ICC should end the competition.

"I just don't know how this World Cup can continue under the shadow of what's happened," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"World Cup 2007 will be forever remembered for this."

Donald acknowledged, however, that the end of the World Cup might not have been the solution Woolmer himself would have wanted.

"My personal opinion would have been to stop, but knowing Bob he would have wanted this to go ahead," he added.

End of story


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