Ireland betting to be probed in Woolmer murder

LONDON: The police chief heading the investigation into the murder of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer told a British Sunday newspaper that the odds on Ireland beating Pakistan would be probed.

In a shock result, minnows Ireland beat Pakistan by three wickets in the 2007 World Cup Group D match on March 17.

The following day, Woolmer was discovered strangled to death in his hotel room in Kingston, Jamaica.

Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy commissioner of police, raised suspicions over generous odds of eight to one being touted for an Irish win in the hours before the Pakistan match, The Observer reported.

Rumours have swirled that the strangling murder of the 58-year-old former England international may be linked to match-fixing gangs suspecting he was soon to blow the whistle on corrupt practices.

Shields told The Observer: "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."

Reeling from Woolmer's murder, Pakistan's cricketers headed home on Saturday after police interviewed three team members for a second time, but said none of them were suspects.

"They clarified a number of points," Shields said after captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, caretaker coach Mushtaq Ahmed and manager Talat Ali were questioned just before they and the rest of the team flew out of Jamaica.