Karachi, March 29: A Pakistani former judge, who led a
key probe into match-fixing during the 1990s, today urged the
government to send investigators to Jamaica to assist in the
murder investigation of cricket coach Bob Woolmer.
Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum also demanded a judicial
inquiry into the national team`s shock world cup exit, amid
swirling rumours that Woolmer`s death was linked to a
so-called gambling mafia.
Minnows Ireland sent Pakistan, the 1992 champions,
crashing out of the tournament on march 17, beating them by
three wickets. A day later, Woolmer was found strangled in his
hotel room.
"A judicial inquiry should be ordered into this fiasco.
Winning or losing is part of the game but the manner in which
we lost against Ireland in particular needs to be inquired
into," Qayyum told reporters.
He refused to speculate on the possible motives for
Woolmer`s death but said that Pakistan`s government should
get involved in the probe.
"Woolmer was our man. He was our coach and the
government must send its own investigation team," he said.
In 2000, Qayyum, at the time a Lahore High Court judge,
led a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing
centred on former Pakistan captain Salim Malik.
Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh had
alleged Malik offered them money to under perform during their
team`s tour to Pakistan in 1994.
The Qayyum inquiry banned Malik and paceman Ata-ur-Rehman
for life and fined six others, including the current captain
Inzamam-ul-Haq, caretaker coach Mushtaq Ahmed, Wasim Akram,
Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Akram Raza.
Bureau Report
