Heinrich Klaasen opens up on international retirement: ‘I wasn't enjoying it anymore'
'I wasn't enjoying it' Former Proteas wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen has spoken about his decision to retire from international cricket. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP
Image: Marco Longari/AFP
Proteas' white-ball wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen dropped a bombshell last week when he announced his retirement from international cricket.
A report in Afrikaans newspaper Rapport has revealed that Heinrich's original plan was to play on until the 2027 Cricket World Cup right here in South Africa, but he decided to call it quits after white-ball head coach Rob Walter resigned.
Speaking to the publication, Klaasen said he hadn't been enjoying his cricket for a while and had a long conversation with Walter to discuss where he was at.
'I had a long conversation with [former Proteas coach] Rob Walter before the Champions Trophy and I told him I didn't feel good in my heart about what was happening; I wasn't enjoying it as much... We talked nicely, we planned everything – well up until the World Cup tournament in 2027,' the 33-year-old said, according to the publication.
Get your news on the go, click
here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Klaasen and Walter agreed on a plan that would allow him to play in the SA20, IPL, MLC, and The Hundred while continuing with the Proteas. However, Cricket South Africa was not happy that he would miss the tour to Australia in August.
When Walter resigned and his negotiations with Cricket South Africa collapsed, Heinrich said that made the decision to retire from international cricket an easier one.
'It is a sad day for me as I announce that I have decided to step away from international cricket. 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,' Klaasen said on social media last week when announcing his decision.
'From the first day, it was the biggest privilege representing my country and it was everything that I have worked for and dreamed about as a young boy.'
According to CSA's head of national teams Enoch Nkwe, the mother body and Klaasen sat down to try and find a solution, but they could not meet in the middle in their negotiations.
'We had a contract on the table. With such negotiations, it's always back and forth to try to reach a place where both parties are satisfied. We tried to find each other, but unfortunately, it didn't happen,' Nkwe said.
Klaasen also stated that his decision to retire was taken before Shukri Conrad's appointment as the Proteas' coach for all formats, insisting the two had a 'very good relationship.'
IOL Sport
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Proteas fired up for World Test Championship final at Lord's
The Proteas and Aussies are set to duke it out in the World Test Championship final at Lord's from Wednesday to Sunday if the game goes the distance. Proteas all-rounder Aiden Markram chatting to the media at Lord's on Sunday ahead of the World Test Championship final starting on Wednesday. Picture:The Proteas are fired up and ready to take on fierce rivals Australia in the World Test Championship final at the historical Lord's Cricket Ground in London from Wednesday. Known as the 'home of cricket', Lord's has become the host of the ICC World Test Championship final, with New Zealand and Australia triumphing in the first two editions, both beating India in the 2019-21 and 2021-23 editions respectively. The third edition now sees Australia attempt to defend their title against surprise finalists the Proteas, who cruised into the showpiece event off the back of an impressive seven Test winning run over the past year. Proteas all-rounder Aiden Markram on Sunday was asked about his memories of the ground and why it is such a special place to play at. 'I have incredible memories here. From a personal point of view, I haven't done too well here. Played two games here, a Test match and an ODI. But all in all when you leave here you are a really happy person,' explained Markram. 'Everyone wants to play cricket here, so to play in a Test match here is really special, and for it to be a final is obviously the cherry on top. 'It's just the (whole) history. Lots about it, walking to the changeroom, and walking down to the field through the members room, all those sorts of things (are special). 'But mostly the history and knowing how many of the greats of the game have played here. So for us to have that opportunity to play on the same field and share that changeroom they once sat in is quite a cool thought.' World Cup final feel Heading up to the massive encounter, Markram admitted that it has a World Cup final feel, and that arriving in London and stepping onto the Lord's turf has got the players fired up for the match. 'It's got that feel about it for sure. We spent the previous week down in Arundale and it was far more relaxed, with guys zoning in on their skills and everything. There wasn't so much hype there,' said Markram. 'But now that we are here at the stadium, once you step foot in it you realise why you're here and it gets us really excited for it. Of course, a few more days of hard work and it's going to be an exciting game to come.' The Proteas have been far more consistent in the longer format of the game than the white ball format, and Markram was asked if he could put a finger on that, despite the fact that they have done well in major tournaments, reaching the 50-over World Cup semis, T20 World Cup final, and Champions Cup semis in the last three years. 'It's a tricky one to answer. I fell in both formats we've been doing pretty well. For the Test side we have had a lot fewer games, so whenever we play everyone gets super pumped up to play. So that might have been part of the reason,' said Markram. '(Also) different personnel and guys being in form when they are playing. To get performances and results, obviously is the most important thing. But it's quite hard to say exactly what the reason is.'
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Australian allrounder Beau Webster puts Lord's World Test final preparation before honeymoon
Australian allrounder Beau Webster is looking forward to playing at Lord's after being a spectator for many years. Picture: AFP Image: Picture: AFP LONDON: There are not many that would choose Birmingham in the West Midlands of England as their first-choice honeymoon destination, but that's where Australian allrounder Beau Webster and his long-time partner Maddy headed off to after their recent nuptials. Webster, having struck a half-century on his Test debut against India over the course of the home summer in the Gavaskar-Border series before touring Sri Lanka, was desperate to get in some more red-ball time in a bid to secure a place in the Australian starting XI for the World Test Championship final against Australia. 'Yeah, she probably would have chosen somewhere sunnier than Birmingham, but I'm sure we will get away at some point in the next few months once the cricket is done,' Webster told the media at Lord's on Sunday. 'But for me, it was always about getting over here and getting amongst the Duke ball. Obviously, it reacts differently here with the swing and the bounce. So, to get four games for Warwickshire - two at home and two away - was nice to expose myself to different conditions with both bat and ball. 'It's the best prep I could have given myself coming into this Test.' Having belatedly made his Test debut at 31, Webster doesn't want to waste any time in ticking off the major bucket list items in his career. Playing at Lord's in the Baggy Green after being a spectator for so many years is certainly high up there. 'I've been here a couple of times to watch a few games over the years, but to be out in the middle is extra special, so if I do get the nod, I'd be hugely proud to represent the country in such a big game," Webster said. "The boys look forward to this fixture and the two-year cycles means there is a lot of cricket to get to this point and being a part of that I'm really proud of. "I'll be doing everything I can to try and play and show everyone what I can do."
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Proteas tapping into their 'banker' Dane Paterson for Lord's intel, says Aiden Markram
Proteas vice-captain Aiden Markram is relishing facing Australia in the WTC final at Lord's. Picture: Independent Media/Zaahier Adams Image: Independent Media/Zaahier Adams LONDON: Aiden Markram knows this final build-up week pretty well. The tension and excitement of it all bottled into one. Markram, of course, has gone through this all before when he led the Proteas - the only men's South African captain ever - in the T20 World Cup final against India in Barbados last year. Here at Lord's though, where the Proteas are preparing to face Australia in the World Test Championship final starting on Wednesday, he drops down to Temba Bavuma's lieutenant. But that does nothing to diminish the importance of Markram's calming influence on a group of players where the majority are tasting the rarified atmosphere of Lord's for the first time. 'It's got that (final) feel about it, for sure,' Markram told reporters on the outskirts of the Lord's outfield. 'But it is a different feeling, to be very honest. I think it's because it's a one-off game where there hasn't been this sort of consecutive build-up to it. So, it does feel slightly different, at least for the time being. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Maybe the night before, all of a sudden it might all align. Obviously, we spent the previous week down in Arundel and it was far more relaxed and guys were zoning in on their skills and there wasn't so much hype around in that town. 'But now that we're here at the stadium, obviously, once you step foot on it, you know the reason you're here for. It gets us really excited for it, of course, and a few more days of hard work and it's going to be an exciting game to come.' Markram has limited playing experience at the famed St John's Wood ground, having only appeared in a single Test and ODI here before, but he does appreciate the prestige of the occasion. 'From a personal point of view, I haven't done too well here, But all in all, you leave here and you're a really happy person,' he said. 'Everyone wants to play their cricket here. Walking into the changing room, walking down to the field with the people, all those sorts of things. 'But mostly the history and you know how many of the greats of the game have played here. For us to have that opportunity to play on the same field and share that changing room that they once sat in is quite a cool thought. 'To play in a Test match here is really special and obviously for it to be a final is probably the cherry on top.' Aiden Markram has tapped into teammate Dane Paterson's knowledge of Lord's. Picture: Zaahier Adams/Independent Media Image: Picture: Zaahier Adams/Independent Media
