CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):

The family of murdered Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer said it was unaware of any death threats against him or any involvement in match-fixing.

"To the best of the family's knowledge, there is absolutely nothing to suggest Bob was involved in match-fixing," his agent, Michael Cohen, said yesterday.

Cohen read a statement outside the Woolmer family home in a suburb of Cape Town. He was flanked by Woolmer's widow, Gill, and their sons, Dale and Russell.

"Contrary to reports, we can confirm there is nothing in any book Bob has written that would explain this situation and there were no threats received," the statement said.

Jamaican police Thursday said that Woolmer, 58, was strangled. He was found unconscious in his hotel room Sunday, a day after Pakistan's shock defeat to Ireland in the World Cup and later pronounced dead at hospital.

A book on corruption

There has been speculation that Woolmer was writing a book about corruption in cricket and might have been the target of match-fixers.

"The news from Jamaica about Bob's death is devastating. It's very difficult for the family to come to terms with and they have no idea why this happened," the statement said.

Woolmer would have "definitely" wanted the World Cup to continue, the statement added.

Woolmer had been in constant contact during the tournament with his family, either by email or by phone.

Woolmer's family unaware of any match-fixing allegations