Kingston, May 14:

Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of a heart attack and was not murdered, the Jamaican Gleaner newspaper reported on Sunday, citing Scotland Yard sources.

Woolmer, 58, was found dead in his Kingston hotel room on March 18, the day after Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup in an upset loss to Ireland. But the Jamaican police said on Sunday they are standing behind their belief that Woolmer was murdered.

“That will remain our position until such time as the results of the investigation are known; including the forensic and pathology analysis,” said Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) director of communications Karl Angell in a news release. The Jamaican Gleaner said that a pathology report submitted by Scotland Yard detectives stated that Woolmer “died of natural causes and not manual strangulation as was initially reported by Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields.”

Angell said, “The speculation made in Sunday’s newspapers is part of a series of unhelpful reports that have appeared in the media throughout the duration of this investigation.” The JCF is conducting an extensive and thoroughly professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bob Woolmer,” the release further said.

It was also reported on Saturday, that the Jamaican police were close to naming Woolmer’s killer. “The JCF would again urge the media to refrain from speculation because of the additional distress it places upon the Woolmer family and the fact that it can hinder the progress of the investigation,” it added.

Angell also disclosed that Shields and Deputy Superintendent Colin Pinnock have met with the Metropolitan Police review team and the pathology and forensic experts in London. Angell also said police have departed for South Africa to brief the Woolmer family on the progress of their probe.

In addition to their working relationship with Scotland Yard, Angell, said, “due to the open and transparent approach to the Woolmer probe, the JCF has also welcomed assistance of the Pakistani authorities and Interpol.”