Proteas coach on Klaasen retirement: We didn't even speak
Earlier this week, in a bombshell announcement, it was announced that Heinrich Klaasen had confirmed his immediate retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished seven-year career with the Proteas men.
The warning signs were already there in April when the Proteas men's contracted squad for the 2025/26 season was released, and what stood out more than anything was the absence of keeper-batsman Klaasen.
His omission from the contracted list was acknowledged by CSA in a clear indication that the 33-year-old faced an uncertain future, and perhaps was considering focusing on T20 leagues around the world.
With new Proteas limited-overs Shukri Conrad having asked for his players to prioritise bilateral series over T20 leagues, it was thought that perhaps the two weren't seeing eye to eye.
Whatever the case may be, the sudden retirement is a major blow for the Proteas considering just how Klaasen is to the national cause, with the big-hitting batsman having become one of the most consistent and impactful players in the white ball teams.
Speaking ahead of the World Test Championship final, Conrad suggested that Klaasen's decision was not related to his declaration that players needed to prioritise the national duty over T20 leagues
'Obviously, if you lose a player of the calibre of Heinrich Klaasen, you'd be disappointed,' Conrad told the media at South Africa's warm-up match against Zimbabwe at Arundel. 'But if that's the narrative that you want to espouse, that I'm the common factor, then be my guest.
'I haven't even had a conversation with Heinrich. He turned down the contract long before I was even a thought in the white-ball space. It's really unfortunate that we lose a player of his calibre. He's one of the best in the world, if not the best, among the white ball middle-order batters.'
'I'd be disappointed if it [Klaasen retiring to favour leagues] was, because we didn't have a conversation,' Conrad said. 'I think if guys pre-signed deals prior to me coming on board, I certainly wasn't going to come in there and say, 'Well, you have got to withdraw from whatever you pre-signed.'
'So without us ever having a conversation, I'd be disappointed if that was why he retired. From the little bit I know, I know Heinrich from way back when he was at the academy, kept in the academy sides when I was the coach. I'd be very surprised if he was as short-sighted as that.'
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