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Former Mumbai Indians player Fabian Allen fell victim to a distressing attack and robbery (Source: Twitter)
As the SA20 League playoffs kicked off, with four out of six teams advancing to the knockouts, a shocking incident marred the anticipation of the Qualifier 1 match. West Indies all-rounder and former Mumbai Indians player Fabian Allen fell victim to a distressing attack and robbery. He faced a robbery at gunpoint outside the Paarl Royals team hotel in Johannesburg.
The incident raises concerns about the players' security in the South African league. Media reports revealed that the 28-year-old cricketer was ambushed by assailants armed with a gun near the renowned Sandton Sun Hotel. The attackers forcibly took away Allen's phone and personal belongings, including a bag. The incident occurred on the eve of the Qualifier 1 match between the Durban Super Giants and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
In response to the unsettling news, the head coach of the West Indies cricket team, Andre Coley, reached out to the player. The communication was established through another West Indies international, Obed McCoy. A top official from Cricket West Indies (CWI) assured the media that Allen is fine and encouraged Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Paarl Royals to provide additional details if necessary.
Fabian Allen is set to be part of the playoffs with the Paarl Royals
Despite this unfortunate incident, the SA20 League continued with the playoffs. In the upcoming matches, Durban Super Giants and Sunrisers Eastern Cape are set to clash in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, while Paarl Royals and Joburg Super Kings will face off in the elimination on Wednesday. The Paarl Royals, who won five matches in the group stage, secured the third position on the points table for the SA20 2023–24 season.
A brief overview of Fabian Allen's cricketing career highlights his contributions, having played 20 ODIs and 34 T20I matches, scoring 200 and 267 runs, respectively. Allen also showcased his bowling prowess with seven wickets in ODIs and 24 wickets in T20Is. The incident, however, underscores the need for heightened security measures to ensure the safety of players participating in the SA20 League.