Heinrich Klaasen Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Heinrich Klaasen, the South African wicketkeeper-batter, has announced his retirement from international cricket. In a heartfelt message on social media, he reflected on his journey, expressing gratitude towards his coaches and teammates. Klaasen, known for his explosive batting, played a significant role in various international tournaments, including the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. With impressive statistics and memorable performances, his departure marks the end of an era for South African cricket. Read on to discover more about his career highlights and future plans.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 2, 2025, 17:49 IST

Heinrich Klaasen Bids Farewell to International Cricket

New Delhi, June 2: South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen has officially announced his retirement from international cricket. The announcement was made via his social media on Monday.

In his Instagram post, Klaasen expressed, “Today is a bittersweet moment for me as I share my decision to step away from international cricket. It was a challenging choice, but one that I feel at peace with, considering what’s best for my family and me moving forward.”

Klaasen, who has represented South Africa in 122 international matches, expressed his heartfelt thanks to his coaches throughout his career.

“I have formed incredible friendships and connections that I will cherish forever. Playing for the Proteas allowed me to meet remarkable individuals who have significantly impacted my life, and I am immensely grateful to them,” he stated.

“My journey to donning the Proteas jersey was unique, and I owe a debt of gratitude to the coaches who believed in me throughout my career,” he added.

“Wearing the Proteas badge has been the greatest honor of my career, and I will always remain a devoted supporter of the team. I appreciate everyone who has supported me and my teammates during my time in cricket,” he concluded.

Klaasen was known for his explosive batting style, particularly his whip-pull shot against spinners, making him a formidable player across all formats. He was part of the South African squad that participated in the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, and ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

Throughout his ODI career, he amassed 2141 runs with a top score of 174, averaging 43.69. In T20Is, he scored 1000 runs with a highest score of 81 and an impressive strike rate of 141.84. Klaasen recorded four centuries and 11 fifties in ODIs, along with five half-centuries in T20Is.

His remarkable power-hitting was showcased during a stunning career-best 174 against Australia at SuperSport Park in 2023, marking the second-highest score ever achieved by a number five batsman.

Earlier this year, Klaasen had also retired from Test cricket after participating in four matches in the longest format.