Swanepoel will undergo two separate disciplinary processes: one initiated by CSA and the other by the Lions. He will not contest the charges. It is expected that if he intends to continue his career in South Africa, Swanepoel will forgo this NOC entirely and will return home from the UK for the winter. He also has the option of discontinuing his South African domestic career, which would not require him to obtain an NOC to play abroad. Both these extreme measures will be possibilities only if an agreement between Swanepoel and parties in South Africa cannot be reached.
The decision is a significant blow for Worcestershire, newly relegated to Division Two of the Championship, and set to face Derbyshire in the opening round of fixtures on Friday. Swanepoel was expected to be available to the club for the entire county season, but speaking at the county’s media day on Tuesday, Ashley Giles, the director of cricket, admitted that the matter was now “out of our hands”.
“It’s difficult to explain why whatever has happened has happened, but it has happened and Beyers would probably say he’s made a bit of an error in hindsight,” Giles told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
“I can say there was no pressure on our side on Beyers’ arrival in the country at that time, or taking those steps,” Giles added. “People make mistakes. Beyers is a good man, a good lad. He’s made an error in this case and we’re trying to work our way through it.”
ESPNcricinfo has contacted Worcestershire for comment.