Heinrich Klaasen, one of South Africa’s premier white-ball cricketers, has officially retired from international cricket at the age of 33, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in Proteas history.
Cricket South Africa confirmed the news on Monday, stating that Klaasen has stepped away from all international formats with immediate effect. This announcement follows his earlier decision to retire from red-ball cricket in 2024.
Klaasen made his mark on the global cricket stage in 2018, debuting in both One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). Over the years, he built a reputation as one of the most formidable middle-order batters in limited-overs cricket.
In his ODI career, Klaasen played 60 matches, scoring over 2,000 runs at an impressive average close to 44. His unforgettable knock of 174 runs against Australia at SuperSport Park in 2023 remains one of the most explosive innings ever by a number five batsman – and is the second-highest score in that position in ODI history.
A specialist against spin and known for his aggressive yet calculated approach, Klaasen was equally impactful in the T20I format. He featured in 58 matches, maintaining a strike rate of 141.84, making him a consistent threat to bowling attacks around the world.
His departure leaves a significant gap in South Africa’s limited-overs lineup, as the team bids farewell to a player whose power-hitting and match-winning performances inspired many.