When Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer stood up to face the tough but inevitable "what's next? question following his team's shocking three-wicket loss to minnows Ireland on Saturday, he had simply quipped: 'We have one more game against Zimbabwe then we have to fly back to Pakistan and that?s what?s next for us.'

For Woolmer, that moment never came, as a little over 16 hours later the 58-year-old Englishman would be pronounced dead at the University Hospital, after being found unconscious in the team?s hotel room.

A true proponent of the game, Woolmer had played Test cricket with England in 1975 and was nominated Wisden Cricketer of the Year one year later. In fact, even in the face of a defeat that was as bitter as their unexpected exit at the hands of minnows Ireland, and while many had campaigned for a narrowing down of associate teams taking part in cricket at the highest level, he had pushed for its continued development.

?I am completely in favour of more teams playing (at the World Cup) and the (International Cricket Council?s) High Performance Programme increasing cricket around the world,? he responded to the hot topic of too many minnows in the World Cup.

Credit to ireland

?I think we had a good team and we haven?t played as well as we should have. Quite frankly a lot of credit should be given to Ireland and to the High Performance Programme,? he added.

?We deserve to take the stick because we didn?t play well enough and it?s as simple as that,? he said. ?We must remember, though, that this is a game and these sorts of things happen.

?We are sorry we didn?t perform the way we should, we didn?t mean to do it, but credit to Ireland and good luck to them,? Woolmer added.

On the surface, while obviously disappointed by the team?s loss, Woolmer was looking to continue his involvement in the sport he loved.

?I?d like to sleep on my future as coach of Pakistan. This ranks very highly as one of my worst experiences ... but it is important that I remember that this is a game and things like this happen,? he had remarked.

What i do best

?As for my future as a coach, this is what I do best and, therefore, I?m not going to throw away coaching just like that,? he said.

However, the Indian-born Pakistan coach had admitted that the pressure of international coaching was perhaps getting a bit too much.

?Internationally (coaching), I?ll give it some thought, travelling and being involved in hotels non-stop takes it toll.?

Woolmer?s contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board was due to expire on June 30. Team spokesman Pervez Mir told journalists at the Pegasus hotel yesterday that Woolmer had been perfectly fine after the game and was thinking about doing a number of things for Pakistan cricket.

?I had a very good chat with him and he was thinking about doing a number of things for Pakistan cricket,? Mir said. ?He had a lot of plans and wanted to go back and speak to the chairman.?

Mir also said, ?... The entire Pakistan team and management are shocked and saddened by his passing.?

Mir added: ?His next of kin have been informed and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. The chairman of the PCB has also been informed.

Coroner's Inquest

?There will be a coroner?s inquest and in keeping with Jamaican law an autopsy will take place into his death.?

Mir declined to confirm the cause of death or if Woolmer had died in his hotel room or hospital, but added: ?Hotel staff found him about 10:30 (a.m.). The doctors came in and looked at him.?

He also said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was ?totally shocked and bewildered?.

Ul-haq and Mir both accompanied Woolmer in his last interaction with the media, after Saturday?s shock defeat when they faced up to the ?what?s next? question and played an innings for cricket?s minnows and their inclusion in the World Cup.

That was Woolmer, all for cricket.