Cricket South Africa have confirmed that spinner Aaron Phangiso was thrown off a flight for being intoxicated.

Sunday newspaper Rapport revealed on Sunday that Phangiso was travelling back to South Africa from India, via Dubai, on October 26 last year, where he had played in the ODI series, when the incident happened.

He is said to have offended passengers and flight attendants with his behaviour.

When the touring party arrived in Dubai, the Emirates Airline personnel refused to allow Phangiso on the next flight to Johannesburg, insisting he take a later flight to sober up.

Rapport claims Phangiso was on the brink of being arrested at the Dubai airport before Cricket South Africa stepped in and arranged for him to be allowed to take a later flight.

‘We confirm that Aaron Phangiso pleaded guilty to contravening our player code of conduct and has been sanctioned,’ Haroon Lorgat, chief executive of CSA, told SACricketmag.com.

‘We take disciplinary issues seriously especially with our national players, who are important role models for our youth and ambassadors for our country.’

A spokesperson for CSA declined to elaborate on the sanction Phangiso received.

Phangiso was recently dropped from the Proteas’ ODI squad  for the series against England.

This is apparently not the first time the Highveld Lions spinner has been involved in an alcohol-related incident. He was allegedly arrested for drunk driving in Soshanguve in April last year.