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With immediate effect, Heinrich Klaasen has announced
his retirement from Test cricket. Klaasen will remain available in white-ball
competitions for South Africa.
Between 2019 and 2023, Klaasen participated in four
Test matches; the most recent one was against the West Indies in the summer.
After Dean Elgar’s Test career ended with the New
Year’s Test against India, he is the second senior player to leave the format.
Although Klaasen was left off the squad in favour of Kyle Verreynne, Test coach
Shukri Conrad insisted that Klaasen remained in his plans.
Conrad stated as recently as February of last year
that he thought Klaasen was a “better batter” and hence preferred him
over Verreynne. With a top-score of 20, Klaasen scored 56 runs in four innings
against the West Indies, and Verreynne ended up third in the first-class league
last season.
Verreynne was Conrad’s choice against India, although
at the time of the squad’s announcement, it was stated that Klaasen would
probably play in Tests in Bangladesh and the West Indies later this year.
Klaasen has withdrawn from consideration for those tours as of right now.
Although he gave no explanation for his retirement, it
is likely that Klaasen is chasing T20 leagues at this point in his career given
his obligations in the MLC, IPL, and Hundred.
“After a few sleepless nights wondering if I am
making the right decision, I have decided to retire from red-ball cricket. It’s
a difficult decision that I have made because it is by far my favourite format
of the game,” he said in a statement. “The battles that I faced on
and off the field have made me the cricketer I am today. It has been a great
journey and I am glad I could have represented my country. My baggy Test cap is
the most precious cap I have ever been handed.”