When news broke on Friday about an incident involving a former Proteas cricket player and a schoolboy from Pinelands, many thought it would be a misunderstanding cleared up in time for after-work drinks.

It turns out this one won’t go away though, because the former international cricketer will appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. He is expected to be formally charged at that point, which is why the media have been unable to name him.

First up let’s get the details from TimesLive:

Police spokesperson Constable Noloyiso Rwexana [said] on Friday that a case of assault is under investigation.

“According to reports‚ a 14-year-old male opened a case and it is under investigation‚” Rwexana said. “The suspect has been warned to appear in court on 13 September 2016″…

The teenager’s sister said the boy and his friends had been shouting at passing cars outside Pinelands High School on Wednesday.

“And then he (the cricketer) just pulled him by the throat and clamped him against the car and asked him what is it that he said [what did you say to me] and then my brother said they were just playing around‚” the sister told EWN.

“Then two other guys came trying to get my brother out of the car and the guy was just trying to fight them off and closed his door and he continued smacking my brother in the car and hit him really hard across the face and then he sped off.”

The ex-cricketer allegedly drove around with the boy for several minutes before dropping him off at the school.

The teen was treated at a nearby hospital for cuts and bruises on his face.

Whilst the cricketer in question has not yet spoken out publicly, he has had some interaction with the media:

…via WhatsApp‚ the ex-cricketer said: “How can I assault a 14-year-old in front of my kids? I took the 14-year-old to Pinelands High School and reported him for swearing me and throwing little stones in my car.”

With details hard to come by the word ‘kidnapping’ began to circulate, although that’s now been put to bed. Below from IOL:

Rwexana said media reports the ex-cricketer faced a kidnapping charge were false…

The ex-Proteas cricketer involved in the incident has apparently been in trouble before.

Weekend Argus understands this trouble related to a cricket matter.

On Friday Weekend Argus repeatedly called and then messaged a phone number the cricketer used. He did not reply.

Cricket South Africa have also remained mum on the matter, but we can’t just leave such a burning question unanswered.

What we know – 35 years of age, former national team player, has been in trouble for a cricket matter in the past.

It isn’t hard to find a list of guys aged 35 who have played for the Proteas, and when you do one name certainly stands out. We’ll tread legal water and say something along these lines…

There’s a 35-year-old former cricketer, with a few Proteas caps to his name, who has been in the news for match-fixing allegations of late. It also just so happens that he was educated at Pinelands High School.

Maybe Pinelands High School’s Wikipedia page lists which former alumni have represented their countries? You have a few clicks around there, maybe you stumble upon something.

It’s certainly not concrete, and there are two sides to every story, but join those dots above and one name might jump out at you too.

[sources:timeslive&iol]