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Pakistan cricketers head for home Pakistan squad deny Woolmer rift
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistan's cricket team has landed in Britain, a day after Jamaican police probing the murder of coach Bob Woolmer finished questioning squad members. Suggestions of a heated row between Pakistani cricketers and coach Bob Woolmer hours before his murder have been denied by a team official.
The squad is hoping to leave for Pakistan on Sunday night, a team spokesman told the BBC. Spokesman Pervez Mir said there was silence, not confrontation, in the wake of the team's surprise World Cup knockout to Ireland on 17 March.
Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, team manager Talat Ali and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed spoke to police on Saturday. Bob Woolmer was found strangled in his hotel room early the next day.
Jamaican police, who have launched a murder hunt, questioned Pakistan's players before they left the island.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, team manager Talat Ali and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed spoke to police on Saturday.
Jamaica's deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said the extra questioning had been only a formality.Jamaica's deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said the extra questioning had been only a formality.
Pakistan's players and management touched down at London's Heathrow airport shortly before midday local time and were ushered away from the waiting media. The squad team has now landed in Britain, and hopes to leave for Pakistan on Sunday night, Mr Mir told the BBC.
Their next moves are not clear, says the BBC's Andy Swiss. It had been thought the team would spend at least one night in London but team spokesman Pervez Mir said they were hoping to return to Pakistan later in the day. Rift rumours
Speaking after the squad arrived at London's Heathrow airport, Mr Mir said the players were shell-shocked by the surprise defeat to Ireland, which saw Pakistan eliminated from the World Cup.
There was no confrontation in the dressing room. There was no confrontation in the bus. In fact it was a stunned silence Pervez MirPakistan spokesman
The team has been dogged for years by damaging internal rifts and suggestions of power struggles between Inzamam and Woolmer.
However, Mr Mir denied widespread reports of any clash with the coach.
"There was no confrontation in the dressing room. There was no confrontation in the bus. In fact it was a stunned silence."
Woolmer then went to his room with a final word for his captain, telling Inzamam-ul-Haq "it is a sad thing we are parting this way".
The circumstances surrounding the defeat to Ireland have become a key part of the police investigation into Woolmer's murder.
Questioning 'routine'
Pakistan's players and management touched down at London's Heathrow airport shortly before midday on Sunday and were ushered away from the waiting media.
Inzamam was one of three squad members questioned
Woolmer's body is being kept in Kingston until an inquest is held.Woolmer's body is being kept in Kingston until an inquest is held.
Mr Shields said the three squad members were questioned to "clear up" any possible "ambiguities" given in the statements taken earlier from the team. In Jamaica, Mark Shields said the three squad members were questioned on Saturday to "clear up" any possible "ambiguities" given in the statements taken earlier from the team.
"Throughout this process, there has been nothing but co-operation from the Pakistan team," Mr Shields added."Throughout this process, there has been nothing but co-operation from the Pakistan team," Mr Shields added.
An official from the Pakistani embassy in Washington - Zaheed Hafeez Chaudhri - told a news conference that the team had been eager to help police. Mushtaq told Sky News that police had asked "lots of guys different questions".
"They were never under detention. They were never held back. The team was traumatised, but in view of the serious crime, we wanted to co-operate," he said. "It is not a big issue, just a matter of timing," he said. "It was little things they wanted to know.
'Calm and OK'
"The police are doing their work and they ask lots of guys different questions," Mushtaq told Sky News. "It is not a big issue, just a matter of timing. It was little things they wanted to know.
We are 110% sure [that none of the Pakistan team were involved] Mushtaq AhmedWe are 110% sure [that none of the Pakistan team were involved] Mushtaq Ahmed
"We have to follow police policies and everything is calm and OK. We are supporting the police. We are leaving and they wanted to clear everything up.""We have to follow police policies and everything is calm and OK. We are supporting the police. We are leaving and they wanted to clear everything up."
Inzamam confirmed he had spoken to the police again but would not reveal any details.Inzamam confirmed he had spoken to the police again but would not reveal any details.
"Someone asked me a question and I gave him an answer," said the Pakistan captain. "I will not tell you the question but it is nothing serious. It is not a special thing."Someone asked me a question and I gave him an answer," said the Pakistan captain. "I will not tell you the question but it is nothing serious. It is not a special thing.
"He told me 'Please go home, there is nothing else.'" "He told me 'Please go home, there is nothing else'."
The cause of Woolmer's death is not yet known Detectives in Jamaica believe Woolmer probably knew his killer - or killers - as there were no signs of forced entry into his room and none of his belongings had been stolen.
Woolmer, a former England player, was found unconscious in his room last Sunday, the day after Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup by Ireland.
Detectives in Jamaica believe he probably knew his killer - or killers - as there were no signs of forced entry into his room and none of his belongings had been stolen.
Pakistan's players had already given police DNA samples and fingerprints as part of the probe into Mr Woolmer's murder.Pakistan's players had already given police DNA samples and fingerprints as part of the probe into Mr Woolmer's murder.
However, Mushtaq was confident that none of the Pakistan team could be implicated in Woolmer's murder.However, Mushtaq was confident that none of the Pakistan team could be implicated in Woolmer's murder.
"God willing, I am 110% sure [that none of the Pakistan team were involved]," he said."God willing, I am 110% sure [that none of the Pakistan team were involved]," he said.
An inquest into Woolmer's death will be held in Jamaica and his body will not be released until that inquest is over, although no date has been set.
Two Pakistan government officials have travelled to the island to liaise with the Jamaican authorities over the investigation.Two Pakistan government officials have travelled to the island to liaise with the Jamaican authorities over the investigation.