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Pakistan dedicate victory to Woolmer

Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, playing in his last one-day international, hits a boundary off Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya during their cricket World Cup match at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan rallied around Inzamam-ul-Haq to ensure his last match was a proper tribute for dead coach Bob Woolmer and not another debacle.

Imran Nazir clobbered 160 and Inzamam added 37 from 32 balls in Pakistan's rain-interrupted 93-run World Cup win over Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

"We dedicate this game to Bob because he was a wonderful person," Inzamam said. "He's not in this world now and every Pakistani and every cricket lover is sad."

The 37-year-old Inzamam announced soon after Woolmer's death that he would quit as captain and retire from one-day cricket after his 378th match.

"I'm also very sad and what's why I'm emotional, also after playing 16 or 17 years," said Inzamam, who was moved to tears both after his innings and at the end of the match.

While Inzamam was dedicating the victory to Woolmer, a police forensics team was working in the room of a Jamaica hotel where the Pakistan coach was found unconscious on Sunday.

Although senior police have said Woolmer's sudden death was suspicious, authorities continue to say nothing points to homicide.

Bangladeshi cricket fans cheer for their team during the World Cup Group B match against Sri Lanka at the Queen's Park Oval stadium in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

Woolmer died on Sunday in hospital, a day after the St. Patrick's Day upset loss to Ireland that ended Pakistan's chances of qualifying for the second round.

Ireland, on their World Cup debut, were guaranteed a place in the second round after Pakistan's win, taking some pressure off in the last Group D match against undefeated West Indies today.

Both teams are guaranteed of advancing.

Sri Lanka are on the brink of reaching the Super 8s after a 198-run win over Bangladesh, who had stunned India by five wickets three days earlier.

Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga successfully appeals for the wicket of Bangladesh's Abdur Razzak (unseen) during their World Group B match at the Queen's Park Oval stadium in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

Already through to the Super 8s are Australia and South Africa, who meet on Saturday to determine top place in Group A, and New Zealand.

In a setback on the sidelines, former Irish Cricket Union president Bob Kerr died on Wednesday of a suspected heart attack while in Jamaica to watch the matches.

At Sabina Park, Nazir set up a mammoth total of 349 all out off 49.5 overs. It was Pakistan's highest ever World Cup total and the biggest in a limited-overs international at the ground.

Nazir lashed 14 fours and eight sixes off 121 balls. Set a revised target after two and a half hours were lost to rain, Zimbabwe were all out for 99 in the last of their allotted 20 overs.

The Pakistan players plan to remain in Jamaica until tomorrow, although there's no certainty the police investigation into Woolmer's death will be completed by then.

On Wednesday, Police interviewed staff at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, where Woolmer died, but no one has been identified as a suspect in his death, Les Green, assistant police commissioner told Radio Jamaica.

Police will question the Pakistan cricketers, Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields said.

Woolmer's widow, Gill, rejected emerging conspiracy theories that her husband was murdered, when she was interviewed on Wednesday on Indian TV.

Veteran Pakistani batsman Younis Khan said the coach's death and fallout made it difficult to concentrate on playing Zimbabwe.

"It was very difficult for us, like playing without our father -- [Woolmer] was like that for us." Khan said. "It has been a bad two days. Everybody is hurting and nobody knows what's happening next."

Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya scored 109 in an injury-interrupted innings to guide the 1996 champions to a convincing win over Bangladesh at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Chamara Silva (52) also hit half-centuries and skipper Mahela Jayawardene contributed 46 in Sri Lanka's 318 for four in 50 overs.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 112, leaving their qualification for the next round riding as much on the Sri Lanka versus India match today as on their final match against Bermuda today.

"We're happy with what we've achieved today, but we cannot relax," Jayawardene said. "I see a big game against India on Friday -- we want to win this one, too."

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said Jayasuriya was outstanding, but his lineup let itself down.

"We didn't bowl well today. Our fielding fell short of the mark -- and we need to field really well against the big teams," he said. "It was a bad game for us -- we fielded badly, we lost early wickets, nothing went right."
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