 "Heinrich Klaasen had quit Test cricket in 2024 and has now retired from white-ball cricket. Image: Reuters")
South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen has revealed the emotional reason behind his decision to retire from international cricket. In a recent interview, Klaasen said he had not been enjoying the game for a while and that things behind the scenes made it easier for him to walk away.
Speaking to Rapport, Klaasen admitted, “I felt for a long time that I didn’t really care about any of my performances and whether the team won or not. That’s the wrong place to be.” Klaasen had been a part of the South African team since 2018 when he made his white-ball debut. He retired from Test cricket in January 2024.
Klaasen reveals why he quit international cricket
Klaasen explained that he had a long chat with former South Africa coach Rob Walter before the ICC Champions Trophy and shared how he was feeling. South Africa made it to the semi-finals of the 50-over event before getting knocked out by New Zealand.
“I told him I didn’t feel good in my heart about what was going on. I wasn’t enjoying it that much. So when he finished as coach and the [contract] negotiations [with CSA] didn’t go as planned, it made my decision a lot easier,” Klaasen said.
Walter stepped down as South Africa’s coach in April this year. He joined the New Zealand team as their coach in all formats this month. After it was confirmed that Walter would leave, Klaasen wasted no time in calling it quits.
“Now I can spend six, seven months at home. My family needs it, it’s been a long four years with a lot of travel. I need a little rest,” Klaasen said about his plans.
Klaasen was last seen in action for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. His team failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing runners-up in the previous edition. He is set to play in the Major League Cricket (MLC) next. After that, the Protea is expected to participate in the Hundred.