Team allowed to go to 145;avoid diplomatic crisis146;

Shields expects the cricketers to return in case the investigation demands

Jamaican Police reluctantly allowed the Pakistan team to go home to avoid a diplomatic crisis but they are now working to ensure that the cricketers return in case the investigation into Bob Woolmer8217;s murder demands.

Deputy Commissioner of Jamaican Police Mark Shields told The Times that he was 8220;powerless8221; and had to let the Pakistani cricketers go.

The former Scotland Yard detective said he did not have sufficient evidence to charge anyone with Woolmer8217;s murder and trying to stop the Pakistani players 8220;would have caused a significant diplomatic incident and had an extremely adverse effect on the World Cup8221;.

It would have created an uproar 8220;if I had started holding people against their will8221;, he said.

Shields, however, said that he was negotiating with Pakistani diplomats Zahid Hafeez Chaudhuri and Said Ahmad, who had arrived in Jamaica from the United States, to make provision for the cricketers8217; return if they needed to be questioned again.

Though there is no extradition treaty between Jamaica and Pakistan, Shields referred to a 1996 case where Zeeshan Pervez, was sent back from Pakistan to face a rape trial in Kingston.

Both the Pakistani diplomats were shown the crime scene room 374 by Shields to convey the message that the investigation was 8220;open and transparent.8221;

Story continues below this ad

Later, Chaudhuri told the daily, 8220;Our objective is to provide all necessary cooperation to the Government of Jamaica.8221;

Asked if players would return to Jamaica to help the probe, he said, 8220;There is no suspect in the Pakistani team, so it is premature to discuss that.8221;

Meanwhile, as the probe spreads its wings, the sleuths will also take DNA samples and fingerprints from West Indies captain Brian Lara, whose room was bang opposite to Woolmer8217;s on the 12th floor of the Pegasus hotel.