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GROS ISLET, St Lucia - New Zealand's buoyant cricketers have reacted with dismay following revelations police now believe Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in Jamaica last Sunday.
New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker said the players had been informed of the "awful" development that Woolmer had apparently been strangled -- shortly after they returned to the team hotel following their comprehensive 114-run victory over Canada today.
"We're not really surprised, it's been implied for the last couple of days but it's still hard to take in," Crocker said.
"There's disbelief. It's sobering to think it's come to this, we're all a little bit down -- it's taken the gloss off everything this week.
"We're just trying to come to terms with it. A lot of the management and guys knew Bob. It's horrible that's he's gone this way."
Black Caps coach John Bracewell mourned the loss of a mentor and coaching rival in the aftermath of his death and was tonight absorbing the devastating development.
"John knew him the best but we all sort of knew him," Crocker said.
Crocker was unsure if the announcement by Jamaican police would impact further on the team's security.
The locally co-ordinated arrangements were upgraded yesterday, with more undercover police patrolling the team's hotel.
However, New Zealand head for Antigua tomorrow where they will play Super Eights games against the West Indies and either India or Bangladesh on March 29 and April 2.
"There was a change yesterday. Whether it escalates (in Antigua) we don't know," Crocker said.
He emphasised the team did not consider themselves under any threat.
- NZPA
