“Beef up security for us” says SA Manager

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE in West Indies

WOOLMER: ‘Murder most foul. That is how the tragic death of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistani coach has been described, here in the Caribbean.

This is the first time that a murder has occurred in a World Cup since its inception in England in 1975.

While the Jamaican police would leave no stone in turned to get at the culprits who performed this henious crime, the International Cricket Council must take the blame and not shriek responsibility.

In the run up to the World Cup here many countries warned their citizens travelling to the Caribbean for the World Cup to be wary of undesirables, since their belongings and lives could be in danger.

Then what should the ICC have done? They should have told the hosts and brought these warnings to the notice of the hosts and strictly seen to it that the best of security is provided not only to visitors, but also for players and officials.

Had this been done, then Woolmer would not have had to pay for the negligence of the shieks in Dubai.

With the terrorist threat also in the air, it is surprising that there was not enough security in the hotels that the players were staying in.

Accepted that the ICC will now bring in the Scotland Yard to help the local police and trace the culprits.

But the damage has been done and it is a big, big black mark on the International Cricket Council. Shame!

Reasons adduced for Woolmer’s murder is that he was writing a book exposing book makers and that would have led to his murder.

According to Pakistan team spokesman Pervex Mir Jamil, Woolmer had been disturbed that pages of the book had gone missing.

In certain quarters the cry was for the World Cup to be called off.

Malcolm Speed, ICC’s Chief Executive called on the teams remaining in the tournament to play out a great tournament, something that will put the smile on the face of our great sport.

But Speed who was slow in moving before the incident, must not put the pampers’ or kid talk.

Woolmer’s wife and his two sons have suffered a tragedy and the pain from this loss only they will know.

With the police not ruling out that the killer being someone Woolmer knew, they sought permission to fingerprint and take DNA samples from the Pakistan players and officials.

However no Pakistan players are suspected.

In the meantime Goolan Rajah, the South African team manager has requested for security to be beefed up for his team who are playing in St. Kitts.

Rajah summed it all when he said that the World Cup will surely be remembered forever for the wrong reasons.

Trinidad and Tobago, Sunday