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West Indian cricketer Fabian Allen, who is currently representing the Paarl Royals franchise in the SA20 league, was recently subjected to a frightening incident of a gunpoint mugging in Johannesburg. The 28-year-old all-rounder from Jamaica was targeted outside the team hotel, where he was confronted by assailants armed with a gun who forcibly took away his phone and personal belongings, including a bag.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of players participating in the SA20 league. Multiple sources connected to the Paarl Royals team, SA20, and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have confirmed the incident. While Allen is reported to be unharmed, there is heightened attention on the security arrangements for players in the league.
A CWI source provided reassurance about Allen’s well-being, mentioning that the head coach of the Paarl Royals, Andre Coley, who is also from Jamaica, had reached out to Allen. Contact was established through another West Indies international player, Obed McCoy. The CWI official advised that further details could be obtained from Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Paarl Royals management.
Despite efforts to gather more information, queries directed to the Paarl Royals management did not receive a response. An SA20 league spokesperson, while not denying the incident, referred inquiries to a police officer who, at the time of reporting, had no immediate information. Allen himself was not available for comment.
This incident follows another security-related incident involving SA20 players in recent times. The league is currently in its second season and has reached the playoffs stage, with the Paarl Royals scheduled to play the Eliminator on February 7, followed by Qualifier 1 later in the night. The final is set to take place on February 10.
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