NEW DELHI: South Africa's dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from red-ball cricket, despite being previously indicated as part of the country's Test plans in 2024 by the Test coach Shukri Conrad.
Klaasen, known for his powerful hitting in the middle order, has been a key player in South Africa's white-ball side.
Klaasen's retirement decision comes after playing four Tests between 2019 and 2023, where he managed 108 runs at an average of 13.00.
The 32-year-old batter, who recently delivered a record-breaking performance with 174 runs from 83 balls against Australia in a One-Day International, expressed his fondness for red-ball cricket but stated that a new challenge awaits him.
"After a few sleepless nights wondering if I am making the right decision, I have decided to retire from red-ball cricket. It’s a difficult decision that I have made because it is by far my favourite format of the game," Klaasen mentioned in a statement on Monday. He did not specify the nature of the upcoming challenge but expressed eagerness for it.
Klaasen is expected to feature prominently in global T20 leagues, with confirmed stints in the SA20, Indian Premier League, the Hundred, and Major League Cricket in the United States. While retiring from red-ball cricket, he remains part of Cricket South Africa's white-ball plans.
Enoch Nkwe, Cricket South Africa’s Director of Cricket, acknowledged Klaasen's decision and expressed confidence in his continued contributions to South African cricket in the white-ball format.
The retirement of players from the longer format to focus on T20 leagues has been a growing trend in South African cricket, with the likes of Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, and David Miller making similar decisions before.
(With inputs from Reuters)
