Woolmer critics in Pakistan fall silent as nation is left stunned

Minutes after the Pakistan team had been humiliated by Ireland, the chant started up among the Pakistan fans - "Woolmer murdabad": death to Bob Woolmer. Within hours, the coach had been burnt in effigy in Pakistan.

But in the wake of the news that Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room in Jamaica, the Pakistani criticism has fallen silent. Instead, President Pervez Musharraf announced that Woolmer is being posthumously awarded one of Pakistan's highest honours, the Sitara-e Imtiaz.

The chants of murdabad have long been part of Pakistani cricket support, but they have never been in earnest. They have had more to do with passionate fans letting off steam than any real threat. Pakistan was yesterday facing with shock the possibility a deranged fan might have actually taken the idea seriously, and killed Woolmer for the team's poor performance.

The initial anger at Pakistan's early elimination from the World Cup has given way to horror over what has happened to Woolmer.

Pakistan was in the grip of a political crisis when the news of his murder came through, with President Musharraf facing daily protests. But the shock of Woolmer's death appears to have stunned the country, and even the protests have become quieter.

"Pakistan cricket shall forever be indebted to his services and this nation will always remember him for the joys he brought into the lives of millions of Pakistanis," President Musharraf said.

"I had the pleasure of knowing Bob personally. We found him to be a thorough professional and, above all, an excellent human being. He was an honest, sincere, and warm-hearted person who took pride in what he did."

Woolmer spent the last few months facing mounting criticism as the team was engulfed in scandals beyond his control. Firstly, the Darrell Hair affair at the Oval last year, then the banning of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif for doping charges which were subsequently overturned.

But it was not so long ago that Woolmer was extremely popular in Pakistan, where he was seen to have turned around a mercurial team who had failed to deliver on their talent.

"I am in a total shock," said the bowler Shabbir Ahmed, who was not selected for the World Cup. "He was such a lovely person, who was nice with everyone."

Woolmer's touch spread beyond Pakistan and a trust fund in his memory is to be established in South Africa, it was announced yesterday.

The Bob Woolmer Trust Fund will raise money for a number of projects, including a coaching academy, that the former England cricketer was involved in at the time of his death.

The Bob Woolmer Cricket Academy will be built near Nelspruit, close to South Africa's border with Mozambique, and will open its doors in 2008.

The academy will teach Woolmer's coaching philosophy to both cricketers and coaches and will also involve children from underprivileged communities.

The trust will also ensure Woolmer's book, co-written with sports scientist Professor Tim Noakes, "Discovering Cricket: The Art and Science of the Game" is published.