Islamabad, Pakistan
Bob Woolmer, coach of the Pakistan national cricket team, died suddenly of a heart attack this week, just hours after his team suffered a humiliating World Cup defeat to perennial loser Ireland. The first-round loss to such a mediocre team brought crowds of angry fans into Pakistan’s streets, chanting, “Death to Woolmer!” When news broke that Woolmer had actually died, the country sank into mourning. “He was a good human being,” said President Pervez Musharraf, who is also head of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Musharraf said the coach “promoted the cause and game of cricket in Pakistan with dedication and single-mindedness.” Woolmer, an Englishman, had coached Pakistan since 2004.
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