The coach of Pakistani cricket team Bob Woolmer was reported dead late on Sunday night. He was found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica. He was found bleeding from his nose. It is learnt that he was suffering from diabetes and had also high blood pressure. Initial reports also suggested possiblity of poison intake.
However, clear it was the shock of the defeat that took its toll on him. The growing media pressure on cricket players and even coaches to ensure that the team performs well, has found a casualty. Unfortunately in other sports in the sub-continent there is hardly any such pressure and no such demanding fans.
Woolmer, 58, who was born in Kanpur in India in 1948, had played 19 tests for England and aggregated 1,059 runs at an average of 33 with three centuries and two half-centuries. It was in his role as coach that he excelled much more than as a cricketer.
Bob Woolmer was coach with Pakistan for a long time and had got emotionally attached to the team. Clearly the humiliating defeat from Ireland after their loss to West Indies and the ouster from world cup did him in. He must have gone through hell.
In the press coference following Pakistan's defeat to Ireland in the World Cup 2007, he said that nobody has control over destiny and said that he had played his innings. That proved prophetic. It is indeed sad. Good bye Woolmer . (Bob Woolmer's website)
