In a distressing incident, West Indian international cricketer Fabian Allen fell victim to a gunpoint mugging outside the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg. The 28-year-old all-rounder, currently playing for the Paarl Royals franchise in the SA20 league, was targeted near the team hotel, leaving the Jamaican cricketer visibly shaken.Armed assailants confronted Allen, forcibly taking his phone and personal belongings, including a bag, raising concerns about the safety of players participating in the SA20 league.Fabian Allen attacked and robbed at gunpoint at Paarl Royals team hotel in Johannesburg.- Robbers snatched his phone and bag. (Cricbuzz). pic.twitter.com/ddpsJaSc2D— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 5, 2024Cricket West Indies confirmsMultiple reports connected to the Paarl Royals team, SA20, and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have confirmed the incident. While expressing relief that Allen is unharmed, a CWI official revealed that the West Indies board had successfully established contact with the player.Our head coach Andre Coley, also hailing from Jamaica, reached out to Fabian. Contact was successfully established through Obed McCoy (another West Indies international). He is fine. CSA (Cricket South Africa) and his team, Paarl Royals, could share more details if there are any, assured a top CWI official to Cricbuzz.No confirmation from Paarl Royals managementDespite efforts to gather information, queries directed to the Paarl Royals management remained unanswered. An SA20 league spokesperson, while not denying the incident, redirected inquiries to a police officer who, at the time of reporting, had no immediate information.This unsettling episode marks the second security-related incident involving SA20 players in recent times. As the league progresses to its play-offs stage, with the Eliminator scheduled for February 7 and the final on February 10, concerns about the safety of players participating in the competition continue to mount.
