Pak team's stay extended in Caribbean

KARACHI: The Pakistan team's stay in the West Indies has been extended by a day or two for reasons not known yet, sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Friday.

"They were scheduled to take a flight out from Jamaica on Saturday but now this might be delayed to Monday or Tuesday," a well-informed source said.

He, however, said he could not say for certain if the delay was due to the ongoing investigations into the murder of  Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, who was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday.

"I don't know if it has to do with the investigations but their departure is going to be delayed," the source said.

The team was originally schedule to leave the Caribbean Islands on Thursday after their premature exit from the ongoing World Cup but their stay was extended till Saturday following the sudden death of Woolmer.

Police finger printed the Pakistani players and questioned them individually in Kingston on Thursday. The team has now shifted to Montego Bay.

Sources said the team had gone to Montego Bay, a lavish holiday resort, after accepting an offer by the Jamaican Prime Minister who wanted the players to relax from the tragedy of Woolmer's death.

The Pakistan cricket community got the news of Woolmer's murder early on Friday because of the time difference between the two countries and most of them were shocked with some former players also elicitating their suspicions on what could have led to the murder.

Former Test pacer Sarfaraz Nawaz told a television channel that he suspected the involvement of match-fixers in the murder because the laptop of Woolmer was missing from his hotel room.

"They didn't take any other valuables but just his laptop so it clearly is something suspicious. I know Woolmer used to take down his notes for his forthcoming book and stored it on his laptop," he said.

Nawaz created a stir earlier in the week when he told Indian television channels that Woolmer might have been murdered by the betting mafia.

"I have always said ICC tournaments have fixed matches because the stakes are very high. Some matches are not clean," he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said they were reviewing the entire scenario after the confirmation that Woolmer was murdered.

"We have also been told the police will have some DNA tests on our players and officials today," an official who did not want to be named said.

There are rumours that the PCB and government might send some people to Kingston to assist the team's safe return home from the West Indies.

"It is something we have discussed but nothing is final as yet," the official said.

"Obviously we are concerned because Woolmer's death is very tragic and came out of the blue. This has been one of the worst week's for Pakitan cricket," he said.

The news of Woolmer's murder came hours after President Pervez Musharraf announced the highest civilian award, 'Sitara-e-Imtiaz,' for the dead coach on the occasion of the Pakistan day celebrations.

Musharraf said the award was being given because of "Woolmer's services to cricket and Pakistan cricket".