Speed (A.k.a James Bond of Cricket) say he knows something we don’t? 
**Cricket’s Top Official to Voice Theory on India-Pakistan Exit **](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aluiIEJRjNYU&refer=australia)
By Sam Sheringham](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aluiIEJRjNYU&refer=australia)
April 18 (Bloomberg) – Malcolm Speed, president of the International Cricket Council, plans to say why he thinks former champions India and Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage.
**It's disappointing that India and Pakistan have not made it through to the final eight. I have some views that I will express at a later date about why that is the case,'' Speed said in an interview in Barbados. He declined to elaborate.** (ooh the suspense) On March 17, the first Saturday of the tournament, Pakistan was upset by World Cup newcomer Ireland while India was being humbled by Bangladesh. A further loss apiece left both teams departing the Caribbean two weeks into the seven-week tournament. The flops caused outrage across the cricket-mad subcontinent, with fans burning effigies of players. While some Asian supporters stayed to see out the tournament, others followed the players home, resulting in sparse attendances for matches supposed to feature the sport's biggest crowd-pullers. Their absence from most of cricket's richest event won't reduce the money the council receives from sponsors and advertisers, Speed said. The Caribbean host nations, however, lost out on last-minute ticket sales and tourism income. Their early exit was a negative’’ for the tournament, he said.
The Indian subcontinent is the economic powerhouse of world cricket,'' said Speed, the sport's top official. They are two of the world’s biggest countries, they are passionate about cricket and there was a strong expectation they would be here at this stage.‘’
Pakistan’s failure was overshadowed by the murder of coach Bob Woolmer in his Jamaica hotel room the morning after the game. Forensic tests indicated he was poisoned before he was strangled, the London-based Sunday Times reported two days ago. Police are yet to arrest a suspect.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sam Sheringham in Barbados at at [EMAIL=“[email protected]”][email protected]