Gill Woolmer (right), widow of slain Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer, with sons Dale (left) and Russel, outside their home in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. The family said it was also unaware of any death threats or any involvement in allegations of match fixing involving Mr. Woolmer. - AP

A CORONER'S inquest has been ordered into the death of Pakistan team coach Bob Woolmer.

Woolmer, 58, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Sunday from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation after he was attacked in his Jamaica Pegasus hotel room.

A statement released by the Jamaica Information Service, which has been attributed to Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, said the coroner directed that the inquest be held "as soon as possible".

The coroner also ordered that Mr. Woolmer's body remain within his jurisdiction until the inquest has been completed.

However, up to press time last night, Pakistan's media manager P.J. Mir said the Pakistani delegation had not been informed of the decision not to release Mr. Woolmer's body.

Widow informed

Gill Woolmer, Bob's widow, has, been informed of the decision to keep the body in Jamaica, the statement said.

Two Pakistani team officials will also remain in Jamaica to see to the interest of the Woolmer family, it added.

Yesterday, the police collected DNA samples from the entire Pakistan team. Asked whether the team feels targeted, Mr. Mir said, "The team feels absolutely disgusted by misleading reports that are baseless."

Asked to point to these reports, Mr. Mir could not, but he charged that the media had published stories based on hearsay and were often pre-empting the police.

"The police are the authority andthe medical people," Mr. Mir said.

It is understood that police in South Africa cordoned off the street around Mr. Woolmer's house in that country. It is, however, unclear why this had been done but there are unconfirmed reports that his family has been receiving death threats.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has expressed disappointment in how the matter has been handled.

" ... We are calling on the police to immediately provide the media with all available information on Mr. Woolmer's death, which will not compromise the investigations and to cooperate fully with the press in ensuring the country's name is fully protected," said the statement issued by Derrick Smith, the JLP Spokesman on National Security.