Woolmer

The sudden death of Bob Woolmer, the coach of Pakistan, has inevitably cast a dark shadow over the Cricket World Cup (CWC), particularly the remainder of matches to be held in Jamaica.

For the fact is, Bob Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room in circumstances that are yet to be established. Moreover, his death came less than 24 hours after Pakistan's defeat by Ireland in a group-stage match of the CWC, which effectively knocked Woolmer's team out of the competition.

That defeat by a cricketing minnow was, as would be expected, humiliating to a cricketing power like Pakistan - to the players, coach, the team management, the managers of cricket in Pakistan and, more so, to the country's cricket-mad population. The humiliation and disbelief showed on the faces and in the comments of Woolmer and team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in the immediate aftermath of the match. It was reflected on the streets in the cities of Pakistan. In Multan, for instance, effigies were burnt of Woolmer and Inzamam and throughout the country there were calls for the heads of the coach and captain as well as that of the boss of Pakistani cricket, Nasim Ashraf.

The domestic reaction to Pakistan's defeat underlines the pressure which coaches in the modern game come under generally, but with greater intensity on the subcontinent. It suggests, too, the weight that Woolmer, despite his calm and philosophical responses to the defeat, would have felt at being beaten by Ireland.

Perhaps this contributed to his death, but the determination demands far more than speculation. In the context of the World Cup, and more important, for the memory of Bob Woolmer and the peace of mind of his family, it is critical that the Jamaican authorities quickly determine how he died.

Death at an age where Woolmer had so much more to give is never easy. But the cricket world which held him in high esteem will be relieved if it is determined that his death was from natural causes.

Nonetheless, it is important that the Cricket World Cup goes on and that the games are played attractively and hard, with all teams displaying a deep determination to win. That would be fitting tribute to Bob Woolmer, for it would be the Woolmer way, a steely certitude coated with easy joyousness. There can be no going through the motions.

Bob Woolmer was large in every sense, but he was clear that he was never bigger than the game which he loved so much and to which he gave so much more. The Pakistan team will pay a great tribute to him and to cricket in general by turning out to play against Zimbabwe tomorrow, Wednesday, and playing as Woolmer would have commanded: tough and uncompromising, but joyous.