KINGSTON: Jamaicans have reacted with shock and disbelief following the death of former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and the disclosure by police that his death was being treated with suspicion.
Woolmer, was found unconscious in his Jamaica Pegasus hotel room in Kingston last Sunday and was pronounced dead on arrival at the University Hospital, five kilometres north of the hotel.
A full scale investigation has been ordered into his death, following a disclosure on Tuesday night by deputy police commissioner Mark Shields that there were suspicious circumstances surrounding Woolmer's death.
Kishana Gordon, 26, a mathematician and ardent cricket fan was horrified at the turn of events.
"It is really sad what happened, considering now that they are investigating what could be a murder case. It just goes to show just how serious some people take cricket. I hope that Jamaica's image has not been tarnished in all of this," she said.
Lawrence Rowe, 58, a former Jamaica captain and West Indies cricketer of the 1970s and 1980s, said that Woolmer's death was a terrible blow for cricket.
"It is not just about the World Cup, but cricket in general," said Rowe, who scored 2,047 runs from 30 Test matches for the West Indies, including a best of 302 against England in 1974 and an average of 43.55.
"It is sad that Bob went out like this and in such bizarre and mysterious circumstances. I remember him well, because he got me out in a Test match at Headingley, England in 1976, one of his four Test wickets and we got on very well. To hear that his death could be a homicide is sad," Rowe said.
Shanel Daley, 18, who represents the Jamaica women's cricket team, is fearful that Jamaica's image as a country will now be further tarnished.
"It is a tragic incident and I am sorry that it happened in Jamaica," she said.
"Knowing that it is a potential murder, it could look bad on the Jamaican public," Daley said.
Computer specialist Patrick Dallas, 49, said that Jamaica's reputation could be on the line.
"Jamaica has a reputation of being a country that has too much violence due to the fact that people have poor dispute resolution skills. To have Woolmer dying in this country under such circumstances makes me as a Jamaican very concerned. I hope that Jamaica does not suffer for this," Dallas said.
"When I heard that Woolmer had died, I though that he had a medical condition that was not advertised to everyone and he had taken things too hard, as a result of Pakistan not reaching the last eight and being beaten by Ireland. To hear now that there is suspicion of foul play is shocking," Dallas said.
Pakistan, the 1992 winners, were among the favourites for the tournament but defeats by West Indies and debutants Ireland doomed them to early elimination.
Woolmer said on the eve of his death that he wanted to sleep on his future as the coach of one of the world's most fanatical cricket-following countries.
The seven-week World Cup culminates in the April 28 final in Barbados.
