Pakistan coach Woolmer dead

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died aged 58 on Sunday after being found unconscious in his hotel room the morning after his side's shock World Cup exit, the team announced.

"Robert Andrew Woolmer has passed away today and the entire Pakistan team and management are shocked and saddened by his passing," team spokesman Parvez Mir said, reading a statement.

"His next of kin have been informed and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. The chairman of the PCB has also been informed.

"There will be a coroner's inquest and in keeping with Jamaican law an autopsy will take place into his death.

"Further information will be released by the PCB at the earliest opportunity once it has been received from the hospital."

Although Mir declined to confirm the cause of death or if Woolmer had died in his hotel room or hospital, he added: "Hotel staff found him about 1030. He was laid out on the floor, with mouth wide open and blood on the bathroom floor ... and there was vomit on the walls."

He also said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq was "totally shocked and bewildered" by the news.

SHOCK DEFEAT

Woolmer had seen his team crash out of the World Cup on Saturday after a shock Group D defeat by debutants Ireland at Sabina Park.

The former England batsman was made coach of Pakistan in June 2004. The job of coaching the national team of the cricket-crazy country is considered one of the most pressurised in the sport.

Woolmer, who has a distinguished career as a coach, appeared to take the three-wicket defeat to debutants Ireland in his stride following the match.

His contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board was due to expire on June 30 but it was widely expected he would part company with them after the World Cup which is scheduled to finish on April 28.

"I would like to sleep on my future as a coach," Woolmer said in Saturday's post-match news conference.

"It's what I do best, what I try to do best. Therefore I'm not going to throw away coaching just like that.

"However, internationally I will give it some thought. Travelling and being involved non-stop in hotels and so on takes its toll." 

Before turning to coaching, Woolmer played 19 Tests and six one-dayers for England during the 1970s.

As news of Woolmer's death spread around the Caribbean, England team spokesman Andrew Walpole told reporters in Gros Islet, St Lucia: "Our thoughts are with Bob's family. This has come as a huge shock to all of the England team.

"He was a figure who commanded great respect within world cricket and he will be sorely missed."