ISLAMABAD, June 12: Pakistan cricket chiefs expressed ‘great satisfaction’ on Tuesday after Jamaican police said coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes — not murder — during the World Cup.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board shows great satisfaction over the fact that the truth has finally come out,” a PCB statement said.

“This verdict will be a relief for the wife and family of late Bob Woolmer, Pakistan cricket team and the people of Pakistan, who all have been feeling greatly distressed by the rumours that have been clouding the cricket world since this sad incident,” it said.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious on March 18 in his hotel room a day after his team was eliminated from the tournament by minnows Ireland.

Authorities on March 22 announced Woolmer had been strangled, setting off a murder investigation and media speculation that Pakistani players and team managers could have been involved.

The PCB complained that ‘irresponsible and hypothetical statements were made’ in Jamaica and beyond that were ‘very traumatic not only to the Woolmer's family but also to the entire Pakistan nation.’

The PCB said Woolmer's case also dealt a ‘big shock’ to the team, who ‘looked up to him as a father figure.’

However, it didn't say whether it would sue Jamaican authorities for damages, as former Pakistani Test match players.

“We once again convey our condolences to Bob's wife and family and are relieved that this chapter is now closed,” it said.

Ex-players were less diplomatic.

Intikhab Alam accused Jamaican police of ‘mishandling’ Woolmer's case.

“They should not only apologize to the Pakistan Cricket Board but to the whole nation,” he said. “They took DNA tests of our players, fingerprinted them and whatnot. Now they should apologize.”

Intikhab, who coached Pakistan's winning World Cup squad in 1992, also criticized the PCB for not speaking out to tamp down the speculation. “Our cricket board remained silent and the case lingered on.”

Batting legend Javed Miandad said he was surprised the Jamaican police hadn't established the truth sooner.

“With all sorts of modern technologies nowadays available, it's easier to identify the murderer than to murder someone,” he said.

“From the very first day I was convinced that Woolmer had died naturally and I see it as a conspiracy against Pakistan,” Miandad said.—AP