Bob Woolmer dead after Pak crash out

The cause of death was not immediately released.

Woolmer’s wife has been informed and she’s expected here from South Africa. Officials said an autopsy would be carried out according to Jamaican law.

At the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad’s Port of Spain, where Team India’s based, the news of Woolmer’s hospitalisation came in just as Greg Chappell, the other high-profile foreign coach in the sub-continent, was settling down for a press conference the day after his team’s shock defeat against Bangladesh.

But minutes after Chappell had said that he was “sad to hear the news” and conveyed his “best wishes” to Woolmer and his family, a journalist ran up to the coach to inform him that the Pakistan coach was no more. His face suddenly clouded over, and a stunned Chappell moved away from the group into the dressing room “to inform the boys”, then emerged shaking his head, waving his hand limply.

“I know how demanding a job like this can be. It’s a tough job, somehow you got to find ways to relax and enjoy yourself when it’s difficult,” said Chappell.