Gill Woolmer (centre), wife of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, is flanked by her sons Russell (left) and Dale during Bob Woolmer's memorial service in Cape Town yesterday. - Reuters

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):

BOB WOOLMER'S family and friends gathered yesterday for a memorial service near the slain Pakistan cricket coach's home.

The service in the Cape Town suburb of Pinelands was led by an Anglican priest, Jerome Francis, who was coached by Woolmer.

Woolmer's widow Gill and two sons, Dale and Russell, arrived at the service at the Wynberg Boys' High School surrounded by players he coached.

"He was a players' coach. He was my mentor," former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald said. "He put South Africa on the map and we'll remember him for that."

Coaching career

Woolmer coached South Africa's Test and one-day team and led the Proteas to the 1999 World Cup semifinals. After a stint as the high performance manager for the ICC, he took over at Pakistan in 2004.

"He's still the most successful coach South Africa ever had," spin bowler Paul Adams said. "We have lost a great soldier in the game."

Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Kingston on March 18 after Pakistan lost to Ireland at the World Cup. Police said he was strangled.

Scotland Yard detectives and two forensic experts from Interpolhave arrived in Jamaica to help investigate after local police found no suspects or motives.

Woolmer's body remains in Jamaica pending a coroner's investigation. It is being stored at a Kingston funeral home.

Ahmed appears before inquiry

Mushtaq Ahmed - Reuters

KARACHI (Reuters):

MUSHTAQ AHMED, the assistant coach of the Pakistan team, was the first person to appear before the inquiry appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board to evaluate their early World Cup elimination.

Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup after just two matches when they lost to hosts West Indies and debutants Ireland.

The crisis

Their coach Bob Woolmer died the day after the Irish defeat and Jamaican police are investigating his death as murder.

"Mushtaq was very candid about the reasons for the team's performance and gave some useful insight into what had happened," Ejaz Butt, the chairman of the inquiry committee told Reuters yesterday.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been asked to appear before the committee today.

Mushtaq said simply that he had told the committee that there were many reasons for the defeat to Ireland and the captain should not be solely blamed for it.

The committee, which will also question other players, team officials, journalists and board administrators, was recording its proceedings, member Saleem Altaf said.

"We just want to be sure whatever is said before the committee is on record and helps us exactly in compiling our findings," he said.

Altaf, a former Test player, said that what had happened in the World Cup could not be undone. "But we are asking some hard and relevant questions hoping to learn from the mistakes so they are not repeated again," he said.

The committee has been told to give its report in 30 days.