Test cricketer Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa has declared his retirement.
A fixture in the Proteas’ white-ball games, Klaasen never fully established himself in the red-ball format, but he released a statement announcing his retirement.
“I have decided to withdraw from red-ball cricket after a few restless nights of questioning if this is the correct choice for me. “It’s by far my favourite format of the game, so making the decision was difficult,” Klaasen said in the statement.
My character as a cricketer is a product of the struggles I’ve had both on and off the field. It has been an incredible experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have represented my nation. “The most valuable cap I have ever received is my oversized Test cap,” he said.
The declining amount of Test matches expected for the Proteas in the coming years and Klaasen’s personal obligations in many franchise Twenty20 leagues worldwide may have influenced his decision to retire, albeit he did not provide a particular explanation.
After making his Test debut in 2019, the 32-year-old’s career was cut short, with just four matches to his name.
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad had dropped hints that Klaasen might have rejoined the Test squad for their tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh later this year, but he was left out of South Africa’s most recent home match against India.