Inzy: World Cup should have stopped

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq claims the World Cup would have been halted had it been staged anywhere other than the West Indies following the murder of Bob Woolmer.

Woolmer, 58, was discovered unconscious in his room at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica on March 18 - following his team's humiliating defeat by Ireland the previous day.

Inzamam, who relinquished the captaincy and retired from one-day international cricket following Pakistan's elimination, told Geo Super: "If this terrible tragedy had occurred in any other country - if such a security lapse had taken place anywhere else - they would have stopped the World Cup."

The 37-year-old batsman also queried why the Pakistan Cricket Board did not act quicker to assist their players in the aftermath of Woolmer's death.

He added: "The seven days we spent after Woolmer's death were the most tense of our lives.

"And we were surprised that the board didn't rush someone out immediately to assist us."

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports (NASC) was less than impressed after quizzing Inzamam on the team's poor performance at the tournament.

Although Pakistan's exit was rightly overshadowed by their coach's murder, the inquest into the on-field troubles is now under way.

Inzamam and PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf met with the NASC, but failed to provide a suitable explanation.

NASC chairman Rai Azizullah told The Dawn: "Both Inzamam and Dr Ashraf failed to convince the members with their explanation on causes for the World Cup debacle. It is the unanimous decision of our committee that the PCB's administration as well as Inzamam, despite enjoying all powers, not only failed to deliver but also lacked any control over the players."