Heinrich Klaasen bids adieu to international cricket: In Pictures

The Hindu

5 days ago

South African batter Henrich Klaasen makes a shock exit from all forms of international cricket on Monday (June 2, 2025).
The decision comes as a blow for the country ahead of their co-hosting of the 2027 World Cup, where he would have been a major draw card.
Klaasen, 33, is one of the world's most destructive batters in white-ball cricket and a mainstay of the South African limited-overs side in recent years.
Klaasen averaged 43.69 with four centuries and 11 fifties in 60 one-day internationals, and scored exactly 1,000 runs in 58 T20 internationals at a strike rate of 141.84. He also played four test matches for South Africa.
Henrich Klaasen's retirement acted as a blow to South Africa as he could have been a key batter in the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2027. South Africa is the co-host for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027.
'It is a sad day for me as I announce that I have decided to step away from international cricket,' Klaasen said in a Cricket South Africa statement
Klaasen played four Tests for South Africa, scoring 104 runs. He has an average of 13.00 in the format.
Klaasen is one of the world's most destructive batters in white-ball cricket and a mainstay of the South African limited-overs side in recent years.
Klaasen has played 4 Tests, 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is for South Africa, in which he scored 2764 runs.
Klaasen is likely to maintain a presence on the global Twenty20 league circuit.
'I have made great friendships and relationships that I will treasure for life. Playing for the Proteas gave me the opportunity to meet great people that changed my life, and to those people I can't say thank you enough,' Klaasen said in the statement.
International cricketers across the world have reacted to the post he shared on Instagram.
Klaasen has scores 4 centuries and 16 half centuries in his career.
Heinrich Klaasen has done 14 stampings and taken 94 catches, throughout the formats, as a wicket-keeper.
'I look forward to spending more time with my family as this decision will allow me to do so,' Klaasen wrote in his Instagram post.
'My road to wearing the Proteas shirt was different than most and there were certain coaches in my career that kept believing in me - to them I will always be grateful,' Klaasen marked in his statement after retirement.
Klaasen said, to play with the Proteas badge on his chest was and will always be the biggest honour in his career.
'It took me a long time to decide what's best for me and my family for the future. It was truly a very difficult decision but also one that I have absolute peace with'' said Klaasen said after announcing retirement.