Woolmer’s death not without controversy

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Queens Park Oval, Trinidad

DARK SHADOW: Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica declared that a ‘dark shadow’ had been cast on the World Cup, with the sudden death of Bob Woolmer, former England player and coach of Pakistan.

Obviously moved by the sudden passing away of Woolmer, the Prime Minister said: “Our hearts go out to the family Woolmer and the Pakistan team.”

Woolmer was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies after he was rushed there from the team’s hotel, the James Pegasus Hotel.

According to sources, Woolmer’s wife and son wold not be arriving in the Caribbean. Instead the Pakistan team’s trainer Murray Stevenson was present at the post-mortem.

After the autopsy, the Pakistan Board is expected to arrange for the body to be transported to Cape Town, with reports that skipper Inzamum Ul Haq accompanying the body. Rumours circulating here has it that Woolmer’s death was probably the result of a prescription drug and alcohol overdose.

Flags flew at half-mast and the West Indian and Zimbabwean players sported black bands in the match at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

There was also one minutes silence observed.

Obviously Woolmer would have been upset and would have been unable to come to terms that his team, from whom so much was expected, lost to Ireland, which was one of the major upsets in the World Cup.

Here in Trinidad security is really tight. Roads have been closed at certain points and those arriving in vehicles have to park at what is called the ‘Savanna Park’ which has the largest roundabout in the world - two and a half kilometres, and then take a shuttle to the ground which is provided free.

After doing our stories on the India-Bermuda game, Bandula Molligoda and I who are the only two journalists from Sri Lanka representing the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd, had a nasty experience trying to flag down a taxi to take us to the hotel we were staying.

The security people on the ground and its surroundings, it must be stated are extremely kind and helpful.

It was dark when we left the Queens Park Oval Media Centre and the security people warned us to be careful of bandits lurking around.

“Don’t have anything jutting out from your pockets. Don’t show that you are carrying cash. Put your wristlets and chains in your pockets and don’t go out alone, unless you want to court disaster,” said the security staff.

We then realised what fear is all about and with no taxis willing to stop, Molligoda and I did a run-walk, run-walk approach to the hotel which was about three kilometres and once we reached the safety of our hotel, we immediately put a couple of ‘shots’ to ease our nerves and tension.

One has to be here to know and experience what it is all about.