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Woolmer 'died of natural causes'

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LONDON, England -- Jamaican police are to announce next week that Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered as they had initially stated, Britain's Daily Mail said on Saturday.

Citing a source close to the inquiry, the newspaper says Jamaican authorities will say they are no longer treating the death suspiciously and that the 58-year-old died of heart failure brought on by ill health and possibly diabetes.

Woolmer was found dead on the floor of his Kingston hotel bedroom on March 18 after Pakistan had been beaten by minnows Ireland in the World Cup, hastening their premature exit from the competition.

An initial post-mortem said the former England test batsmen had died of asphyxiation but, after a review by London's Metropolitan Police, Jamaican officers now privately agree no third party was involved in his death, the paper said.

"Mr Woolmer was not a well man. It is now accepted that he died of natural causes," the source was quoted as saying.

The paper also quoted a colleague of investigating officer Mark Shields, Jamaica's Deputy Commissioner of Police, criticising his conduct.

"With hindsight, he should have ensured a second post-mortem was carried out. Instead of saying the death was suspicious, he rushed out a statement saying it was murder. He is going to be a laughing stock," the colleague is quoted as saying.

The paper said a news conference would be held in Kingston next week.

Farewell Sonn

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) first African president Percy Sonn was laid to rest on Saturday, six days after the South African died from complications following colon surgery.

Leading members of the international cricketing fraternity, the government and judiciary packed St George's Cathedral in Cape Town as Sonn was eulogised.

"It is amazing that Percy, the boy from Bellville Cricket Club, became the boss of world cricket," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

Sonn, 57, succeeded Ehsan Mani as head of the world governing body in June 2006 after two years as the organization's vice-president.

Pall bearers into the cathedral included Zimbabwean cricket administrator Peter Chingoka and Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa's CEO.


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Woolmer was found dead on the floor of his Kingston hotel bedroom on March 18.

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