Heinrich Klaasen, the wicketkeeper-batter from South Africa, has declared his retirement from international cricket on Monday (June 2), having previously concluded his red-ball career in 2024.
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Klaasen’s Final Words:
“This is a sorrowful day for me as I announce my decision to withdraw from international cricket. It has taken considerable time for me to determine what is best for my future and that of my family. This was indeed a challenging choice, yet one that I embrace with complete peace,” Klaasen remarked regarding his departure from international cricket after representing the South African team for seven years.
“From the very first day, it has been the greatest honor to represent my country, fulfilling everything I have aspired to and dreamed of since childhood,” Klaasen stated. “I have formed wonderful friendships and connections that I will cherish for a lifetime. Playing for the Proteas has allowed me to meet remarkable individuals who have profoundly impacted my life, and to those individuals, I extend my heartfelt gratitude.
My journey to donning the Proteas jersey was unlike that of many others, and I owe a debt of gratitude to certain coaches throughout my career who continued to believe in me. Wearing the Proteas emblem on my chest has been, and will always remain, the greatest honor of my professional life. I eagerly anticipate spending more time with my family, as this decision will facilitate that. I will forever be a devoted supporter of the Proteas and wish to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me and my teammates throughout my career,” he remarked.
The 33-year-old Klaasen, who made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2018, concluded his career with over 3000 runs across both formats combined. He accumulated 2141 runs in 60 ODIs (56 innings), boasting an average of 43.69 and a strike rate of 117.05, which includes 4 centuries and 11 fifties, with a personal best of 174 against Australia in 2023. In T20Is, he participated in 58 matches (53 innings), scoring 1000 runs at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of 141.84, featuring five half-centuries, with a top score of 81 against India in 2022.
Klaasen’s final ODI match occurred during South Africa’s defeat to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy semifinal in March 2025. His last T20I took place against Pakistan in December 2024.
Enoch Nkwe, the director of national teams and high performance, remarked: “Heinrich has been an exceptional match-winner for South Africa. He possessed the ability to alter the outcome of a game within just a few overs. His dedication and influence in the white-ball formats have been significant, and we express our gratitude for his remarkable contributions to South African cricket.
“He has maintained transparency with Cricket South Africa over the last few months, and we fully honor his choice to retire from international cricket. We wish him all the best in the next phase of his journey.”
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