Proteas captain Smith to wed Irish singer

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith is engaged to marry Irish singer and model Morgan Deane, a Cricket South Africa (CSA) official said on Tuesday.

Smith flew to Ireland to pop the question after the Proteas’ shock 49-run defeat to New Zealand sent them crashing out of the Cricket World Cup last month, said CSA spokesperson Michael Owen-Smith.

“He became engaged on Sunday,” Owen-Smith said, adding that cricket officials would leave it to Smith to announce details of the couple’s plans.

Under fire
Smith came under fire after the World Cup from South African fans, who accused him of dodging the fallout of the Proteas’ exit when he did not return home with the team after their quarterfinal loss.

But Owen-Smith said the captain had special permission to skip the trip.

“He was given permission by the team manager to do that. It was for personal reasons, and this obviously was the reason for it,” he said.

Smith (30) announced last year that he would give up his country’s one-day captaincy after the World Cup, though he continues as Test skipper.

Appointed captain at the age of 22, he has led South Africa in more Tests and one-day internationals than any other player.

Deane (25) is a model and singer who will be a backing vocalist for Irish pop band Jedward at the 2011 Eurovision song contest in Germany next month.—AFP