Jamaican police are to announce next week that Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered as they had initially stated, a British newspaper reports today.
Citing a source close to the inquiry, the Daily Mailsays Jamaican authorities will say they are no longer treating the death suspiciously and that the 58-year-old died of heart failure brought on by ill health and possibly diabetes.
Woolmer was found dead on the floor of his Kingston hotel bedroom on March 18th after Pakistan had been beaten by minnows Ireland in the World Cup, hastening their premature exit from the competition.
An initial post-mortem said the former England test batsmen had died of asphyxiation but, after a review by London's Metropolitan Police, Jamaican officers now privately agree no third party was involved in his death, the paper said.
"Mr Woolmer was not a well man. It is now accepted that he died of natural causes," the source was quoted as saying.
The paper also quoted a colleague of investigating officer Mark Shields, Jamaica's Deputy Commissioner of Police, criticising his conduct.
"With hindsight, he should have ensured a second post-mortem was carried out. Instead of saying the death was suspicious, he rushed out a statement saying it was murder. He is going to be a laughing stock," the colleague is quoted as saying.
The paper said a news conference would be held in Kingston next week.
The widow of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer said today she had heard "nothing new" from the Jamaican Police about his death.
Speaking from her South African home today, Gill Woolmer said: "I haven't heard anything new from the police and until I do I have nothing to say."
The Metropolitan Police sent three detectives and a scenes of crime officer to Jamaica in April to help with the inquiry following a formal request from the island's authorities.
Karl Angell, of the Jamaican Constabulary, said today they had not received any official report from the Metropolitan Police, and there were no plans for any announcements.
Investigations were continuing, he said.
Additional reporting: PA