Pakistan delegation to keep govt in loop on Woolmer case

KARACHI, April 3 (Reuters) The Pakistan delegation set to assist in the investigation into the murder of coach Bob Woolmer said one of its main tasks was to provide the government with details on how the case is progressing.

Mir Zubair Mahmood, deputy inspector general of investigations in Karachi, told Reuters today that the delegation would travel to Jamaica with an open mind and stay there as long as they were needed.

''Our main job is to assist the Jamaican authorities and also keep our government informed about the progress in the case,'' he said.

Mahmood and Kaleem Imam, a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency, have been picked by the Pakistan Cricket Board and government to travel to Kingston to assist authorities.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his hotel room on March 18, the day after Pakistan lost to Ireland and were knocked out of the World Cup. He was pronounced dead in hospital later that day. Jamaican investigators are treating the death as murder.

''At the moment we are going with an open and blank mind. We will see what happens when we get there,'' Mahmood said.

''How long we stay there depends on the demand and the situation.'' The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board is due to leave yesterday for Cape Town to attend a memorial service for Woolmer.

Reuters SSC RS1657