Malik not involved in Woolmer murder: Family members

London, Mar 30 (UNI) Pakistan-origin British cricket fan Hamid Malik, whom Jamaica Police want to interview in the Bob Woolmer murder investigation, has nothing to do with it, his family members said.

Malik, a sales director of a Manchester catering firm, is one of four fanatical followers of the Pakistan team seen at their hotel and whom police want to talk to in search of new leads.

Two of them -- Erfan Chaudhary and Tariq Malik -- have already come forward to deny any involvement in the death of the Pakistan coach.

According to a report in The Mirror, Malik's relatives said they had spoken to him in the Caribbean but did not know exactly where he was. They are convinced he has no involvement in Woolmer's death.

A family member was quoted saying, ''He is just hopping from island to island at the moment. As far as he is concerned he is out there enjoying the cricket.'' ''He is not aware that anyone is looking for him. He has not spoken to the police. We know 100 per cent he is not involved in anything.'' The report said Malik was banned from an amateur cricket league two years ago after a punch-up with one of his own players. He failed to attend a hearing and was suspended indefinitely.

He has not been seen since at Staley Cricket Club, near Oldham, which plays in the Saddleworth and District League.

Malik's boss, Brian Cunningham, told the newspaper, ''I have not spoken to him for two weeks. As far as we know he is still in the Caribbean.'' Neighbours of Malik, who lives with his mother, described him as ''friendly''. His wife is believed to be living in Pakistan but friends say he often visits her.

He travels around the world to watch Pakistan play and recently returned from South Africa. One former teammate said, ''He loves his cricket -- it is a huge part of his life. When Pakistan are on television you will always see him in the crowd waving and laughing.

He is a good man who likes to enjoy himself.'' Detectives in Jamaica believe Malik helped the Pakistan team informally during the World Cup and was seen at their hotel in Kingston.

UNI