KINGSTON, Jamaica, 21 March 2007 — Pakistan denied yesterday that the World Cup team had been ordered to stay in Jamaica until the investigation into coach Bob Woolmer’s death was completed.

“We hope to get an autopsy report later and see all the investigation complete by today. All such reports of detaining the team are baseless,” Pakistan team media manager Pervez Mir told AFP.

Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup on Saturday by Ireland.

On Sunday, 58-year-old Woolmer died after being found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica.

“Any official can stay back until the process of taking the body to Cape Town in South Africa is completed. We are responsible people and will cooperate in the process,” said Mir, a former international player. “Initially we thought a family member of Woolmer would come to take the body but none of them will be coming. So this is our responsibility to take the body to South Africa. Some of the players are also keen to attend the funeral,” said Mir.

Sobers, Gibbs Present

Million-Dollar Check

In Basseterre, St. Kitts, Garfield Sobers joined Herschelle Gibbs, the newest member of cricket’s most exclusive 6-6-6-6-6-6 club, to present a million-dollar check to charity on Monday. South African Gibbs emulated the West Indian’s feat last week when he became the first man to hit six sixes in an over in an international match, striking the unfortunate Dutch bowler Daan van Bunge over the short Warner Park boundary for 36 runs. Only three men have achieved the act, with Sobers and India’s Ravi Shastri getting their record in first class cricket.

Gibbs’ accomplishment was recognized by Johnnie Walker who wrote a $1 million check which was handed over to a representative for Habitat for Humanity to build accommodation for the homeless in the Caribbean.

Sobers, one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century and recognized as the greatest all-rounder to play the game, recalled the memorable day in 1968 when he struck Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash out of the ground playing for Nottinghamshire in an English county match.

BCCI President Blames Media

for Stirring Up Unrest

In Mumbai, Indian cricket board president Sharad Pawar has slammed sections of the country’s media for stirring up unrest following the national team’s shock defeat to Bangladesh in their World Cup opener. Irate fans hurled stones at a house being built by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni in his hometown of Ranchi and burned effigies of captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell after that defeat.

India rebounded on Monday with a record victory over Bermuda but still need to beat former champions Sri Lanka on Friday to ensure they qualify for the next round.