Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[caught and bowled]

Mushtaq's cut mark, manager's 'fake' name create doubt
PTI
Sunday, March 25, 2007  12:22 IST

   
 
LONDON: A cut mark on assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed's nose and team manager Talat Ali's alleged using of a fake name to change hotel room prompted the sleuths to interrogate them again in connection with Bob Woolmer's murder, claimed a media report.

Apart from Mushtaq and Talat, captain Inzamam-ul Haq was also questioned again before the team left Montego Bay for London.

According to 'The Observer', police asked Talat why he moved from the 12th floor of the team hotel to another suit on the 17th floor using the name 'Newman' on the night after Woolmer was murdered in the hotel. Talat reportedly said "Because I was scared and everyone was scared."

The newspaper quoted unconfirmed reports claiming Mushtaq was asked "Why do you have a cut on your nose? Did you go to hospital?"

Mushtaq said he was hit by a ball in the warm-up session before the Ireland match.

Inzamam was asked when he went to bed on the night of the murder, acording to the newspaper report.

Media manager Pervez Mir, however, claimed that the sleuths had asked some 'general questions' and even asked Inzamam for autograph.

Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields, a former Scotland Yard detective, told the newspaper that he was looking into the betting patterns, which might explain Pakistan's surprise defeat against Ireland.

"One aspect is what were the odds on Ireland if Ireland won. I understand that they were extremely good if you bet on Ireland. The match-fixing thing is being looked at", he said.

On a second grilling, he said, "They clarified a number of points."

Since Jamaican Police announced that Woolmer was strangled in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on Sunday, Pakistani players were grilled, finger-printed and had their DNA samples collected by the investigators.

Before leaving for home, the cricketers also promised full cooperartion in the case even from Pakistan.

Mushtaq, meanwhile, was confident that none of the team members would be dragged into the controversy.

"God willing, I'm 110 per cent sure about that and it's not a big issue", he said.

"It is little things that they want to know. We have to follow police policies and everything is calm," he said.