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Pakistan's seven months of controversy

Pak cricket's extraordinary run of controversy took another twist when police launched a murder inquiry into the death of coach Bob Woolmer.

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Cricket World Cup 2007Pakistan cricket's extraordinary run of controversy took another twist on Thursday when Jamaican police launched a murder inquiry into the death of coach Bob Woolmer at the World Cup.

The following is a chronology of incidents involving the team since August 2006.

August 20: England are awarded the fourth and final test of their home series against Pakistan at the Oval after the tourists forfeit the match following a ball-tampering row. Pakistan refused to return to the field for the final session of the fourth day after umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove had earlier imposed a five-run penalty against them for altering the state of the ball.

September 29: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is cleared of ball tampering by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after a two-day hearing in London, but is banned for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute. The ban means Inzamam misses the October-November Champions Trophy tournament in India.

October 5: Inzamam's deputy Younis Khan steps down as interim skipper for the tournament, saying he did not want to be a 'dummy' captain as well as in protest against the attitude of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials.

October 7: PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan resigns from his post following the Oval test fiasco and Younis's decision to step down. Khan is replaced by government advisor Naseem Ashraf, who convinces Younis to return as captain for the Champions Trophy.

October 16: On the eve of their opening match, Pakistan send home fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the Champions Trophy in India after the pair test positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

November 1: Shoaib is handed a two-year ban by a PCB tribunal, who also suspend Asif for 12 months after finding the pair guilty of doping offences. Both players launch appeals.

December 26: The PCB clears Shoaib and Asif on appeal and the bans are scrapped. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) takes up the case with the ICC after stating the appeals commission's decision appeared to be unreasonable and a violation of the anti-doping code.

February 13: Pakistan include Shoaib and Asif in 15-man World Cup squad pending the passing of fitness and doping tests.   

March 1: The pair are withdrawn from the squad on the same day they were due to fly to the Caribbean for the tournament. The PCB states that the players, who are being treated in London, had not recovered from injury and will miss the World Cup. Earlier on the same day, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed issues a statement saying the bowlers could face doping tests as soon as they arrive in the West Indies.

March 17: After an opening Group D loss to the West Indies, Pakistan are sent crashing out of the tournament in the first round following a stunning defeat by debutants Ireland at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

March 18: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer dies aged 58 after being found unconscious in his hotel room the morning after his side''s shock World Cup exit and rushed to a Kingston hospital. Inzamam announces he will retire from one-day cricket at the end of the tournament.

March 22: Jamaican police launch murder inquiry into Woolmer's death, saying the Englishman was strangled amid growing speculation that he was the victim of a 'betting mafia'.

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