Woolmer was 'worried' about missing manuscript: Mir

LONDON: Bob Woolmer was "worried" when the manuscript of a book he was writing went missing days before his murder in a Jamaican hotel last Sunday, revealed Pakistan team manager Pervez Mir.

Mir said Woolmer had not spoken to him about the contents of the book but he looked worried.

"I don't know from where, but (it) had gone missing. I don't know what book it was. I have no idea what the contents were because I didn't ask him. It was just a concern. I saw Mr Woolmer standing outside the hotel and he looked worried," Mir was quoted as saying by 'The Sunday Times'.

Mir's revelations have fuelled speculation that Woolmer was murdered because he was about to expose corrupt betting in cricket.

More than Rs 169 billion is expected to be wagered on World Cup games, say Indian bookmakers.

Woolmer died within 24 hours of Pakistan team's shock defeat against Ireland.

With the odds at 1 to 25, a punter could have won R1.1-million had he taken a R70 000 bet on Ireland. Only the bravest punters or those in the know through crooked dealings would have chanced such a bet.