Lions Launch Investigation as Beyers Swanepoel Flies to England Mid-Final Without NOC

Following the ongoing matter with the Lions and all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel, the Chief Executive Officer for the South Africa Cricketers Association, Andrew Breetzke, has told SportsBoom.co.za that they do deal with issues concerning players’ No-Objection Certificates, and that it is not often. 

Breetzke mentioned that the Tabraiz Shamsi matter is an example, though it is different to Swanepoel’s. 

He insists that they will wait to get all the facts before determining the way forward in the matter.

SACA CEO, Breetzke

During the CSA One Day Cup final, Lions all-rounder Swanepoel left the field to catch a flight to England, leaving the Lions without an 11th fielder with eight overs left in the contest.

The Lions lost the match by three wickets, missing out on what would have been their second trophy of the season.

Swanepoel left without acquiring the No-Objection Certificate from the Lions, placing him in a very difficult situation, as the Lions have started an internal investigation into the matter.

SACA CEO, Breetzke, has told SportsBoom that they will wait to gather all the facts before determining the way forward.

“No, look, I'm going to wait for it. That's why I've had the discussion with the Lions. We need to find out what the facts are. So, we just need to get to the bottom of the facts,” Breetzke told SportsBoom in an exclusive interview.

“So, that's what the Lions are doing. And then we'll be in a better position to determine the way forward. I think that's the safest way to deal with it at the moment.”

“(We do deal with NOC issues) But not often. But we do have issues around NOCs and when players are released. So, I think this is a challenge in the process at the moment relative to the landscape of cricket. But we need to get to the facts of this one before we take it further.”

“We had a situation like this with the Shamsi matter, which was different because the player had no contract. And there was a high court application relative to an NOC being released. But this is quite different because the player does have a contract.”

“So, there are different types of matters we deal with. But I think best at this stage, we just say we need to find out the facts of the case before we go forward with it. And understand what's going on. It's a bit too premature, I think.”

Lions CEO - Leaf-Wright

The level of high performance, excellence and culture and values that Leaf-Wright drives at Lions Cricket is second to none and having worked with Leaf-Wright in the past, he will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

On Monday, Leaf-Wright told SportsBoom that he has opened an internal investigation on the matter. 

“I’ve launched an internal investigation to find out what's going on," he said. 

"I wasn't aware of Beyers leaving. Beyers didn't have a signed NOC to leave, and I'm very disappointed in what he's done and his behaviour.”

Swanepoel is set to join Worcestershire for the upcoming 2026 County Season. The 27-year-old has joined for a one-year red-ball contract.