Top SA cricketer abandons team mid-final to catch flight
· The South African
In a story that almost seems impossible to believe, but which played out on Sunday, talented cricketer Beyers Swanepoel left his Lions team in the lurch during the One-Day Cup final in order to catch a flight to England for the new County Championship season.
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Swanepoel, who is one of Worcestershire’s five overseas players for the upcoming campaign, had completed his 10 overs of bowling, but shockingly left the Lions to play the final few overs with one fielder short.
With the umpires not allowing the Lions to use a substitute fielder, they played out the final seven overs with Swanepoel nowhere to be seen. At that stage, the Titans – then five wickets down – still needed over 60 runs to win the match, and they ultimately achieved this feat with one ball remaining and only three wickets in hand.
Lions launch internal investigation into conduct of Beyers Swanepoel
On Monday, the Central Gauteng Lions Union confirmed they would launch an inquiry into Swanepoel’s exit.
“I’m just extremely disappointed with Beyers,” Jono Leaf-Wright, the Lions CEO said. “This is not the kind of conduct we as the Lions expect from our players. He has let down his teammates and the union.”
The Lions were already without Russell Domingo, their head coach, who also jetted off to England (albeit with permission) to take charge of Hampshire.
Swanepoel’s teammates were reportedly unaware that he was leaving the field to go to the airport, and although apparently some coaches had been informed belatedly of this shocking decision, it was still thought he would only leave after the game concluded.
Could the fast bowler have his contract torn up?
The new county season starts on Friday, and it will be a strange way for Swanepoel to now start his time with Worcestershire.
Having strangely prioritised his arrival for the England county season, it would be no surprise if the Lions negotiate an abrupt exit from his local contract in South Africa despite the fact he only just recently joined the Johannesburg-based side.
What do you think would be a fitting punishment?
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