Talat Ali shifted his room under a pseudo name in the Pegasus Hotel on the instructions of the ICC, sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday.
KARACHI: Pakistan manager Talat Ali shifted his room under a pseudo name in the Jamaican Pegasus Hotel on the instructions of the International Cricket Council, sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday.
Responding to media speculations that the Jamaican police was investigating why Talat had shifted his room under a false name "Neuman" after the murder of coach Bob Woolmer at the hotel, the sources said Talat had informed the police he was advised to do so by the ICC and hotel management.
"Talat was the last person to shift his room from the 12th floor where Woolmer was murdered. Before him Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, Danish Kaneria, Murray Stevenson, Darryn Lifsun had all changed their rooms soon after the incident," a source said.
They said Talat was told that for security reasons it was better he also shifted his room which was next to Woolmer's.
"Talat didn't know about him being booked into the new room under the false name of Neuman until the hotel manager came and gave him the key," the source added.
"Talat was told he was booked as Neuman for security reasons and to help him avoid the harrassement and hounding by the media people. It was not his decision," said another source.
He said Talat had ticked off the Jamaican police officers who came to interview him, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed just before the team's departure from Montego Bay.
"They asked him why he had changed his room and stayed under the name of Neuman. Talat told them they didn't ask him this question before in the first questioning session. He also than told them they should go and talk to the ICC, Hotel security staff and management and the Jamaican Prime Minister's office to find out why he had shifted his room," the source said.
He said Talat was also upset when the investigating officers asked Inzamam and Mushtaq how many times they prayed during the day.
"Talat told them they were asking irrelevant questions and should stick to the practical ones which had something to do with Woolmer's death."
The source said Talat was also unhappy with the manner in which the Jamaican police officials kept on leaking out news to the media and on one occasion confronted deputy commissioner Mark Shields about this.
"Talat is under great stress after the horrifying experience in Kingston and has informed the Board he will submit his detailed report on everything to them in a few days time as he wants to take a few days off and rest," the source said.
Pakistani players who returned home when contacted individually on phone apologised for not being able to speak on the Woolmer case and said they had been told strictly by the Pakistan Board not to speak to the media on this issue.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}