Cricket South Africa says former Namibia and Worcestershire batsman Louis Vorster has been shot dead in an armed robbery near South Africa’s capital of Pretoria. He was 45.

Vorster, whose career spanned 24 years, was shot on Tuesday night while reportedly driving out of a petrol station. Police have appealed for help finding two men who are believed to have blocked Vorster’s car before he was killed.

The left-handed Vorster played 95 first-class games, also representing provinces in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

While at Worcestershire, he played against West Indies on the 1988 tour. His last first-class game was in 2009.

CSA chief executive Jacques Faul says “it’s a very sad day for southern African cricket”.