South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a memorable seven-year journey with the Proteas. 

 

After retiring from red-ball cricket in 2024., the 33-year-old shared the news on Monday, saying he will no longer play white-ball cricket for South Africa.

 

Klaasen said it wasn't an easy decision, but one he made after careful thought about his future and his family.

 

"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 was best for my family and me in the future. It was truly a very difficult decision but also one that I have absolute peace with," he wrote in an Instagram post.

 

He wrote, "From the first day, it was the biggest privilege representing my country, and it was everything that I had worked for and dreamed about as a young boy. 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 who changed my life, and to those people, I can't say thank you enough. My road to wearing the Proteas shirt was different than most, and certain coaches in my career kept believing in me. To them, I will always be grateful."

 

"To have played with the Proteas badge on my chest was and will always be the biggest honour in my career. I look forward to spending more time with my family, as this decision will allow me to do so. I will always be a big Proteas supporter and would like to thank everyone who supported me and my teammates during my career." he added.

 

Many in the South African cricket community praised Klaasen for his contributions. Director of National Teams and High-Performance Enoch Nkwe said Klaasen had the power to change the game quickly and always gave his best to the team.

 

"Heinrich has been a true match-winner for South Africa. He was a player capable of changing the course of a game in a matter of overs," said Nkwe. "His commitment and impact in the white-ball formats have been immense, and we thank him for his outstanding service to South African cricket."

 

Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki also thanked Klaasen for being a great role model.

 

"Heinrich has been a fantastic ambassador for South African cricket, both on and off the field. His performances in the green and gold have brought joy to many South Africans, and his legacy will undoubtedly inspire the next generation," said Moseki.

 

Heinrich Klaasen made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2018. He played 60 ODIs and scored over 2,000 runs, with an average close to 44. One of his most memorable performances was a stunning 174-run knock against Australia in 2023, which became the second-highest score by a number-five batter in ODI history.

 

In T20 Internationals, he played 58 matches and had a strike rate of 141.84. Klaasen was known for his aggressive batting and his ability to dominate spin bowlers. His fearless style made him a key player in South Africa's white-ball teams throughout his career.