Heinrich Klaasen, the powerful South African batsman, has declared his retirement from international cricket at the age of 34. Klaasen, who recently played in the IPL for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, will depart having represented South Africa in four Tests, 60 ODIs, and 58 T20Is. His decision is undoubtedly surprising, yet one he carefully contemplated. Klaasen's announcement follows closely after Glenn Maxwell's retirement from ODI cricket.

Having previously announced his exit from Test cricket last year, Klaasen retires with immediate effect, concluding a remarkable seven-year career with the Proteas. The wicketkeeper-batsman made his One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) debuts in the summer of 2018, subsequently establishing himself as one of the most formidable white-ball players of his era.

"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’s best for me and my family for the future. It was truly a very difficult decision but also one that I have absolute peace with," Klaasen expressed on his Instagram account. "From the first day, it was the biggest privilege representing my country and it was everything that I have 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 from most and there were certain coaches in my career who kept believing in me - to them I will always be grateful.

Klaasen's white-ball record for South Africa

Klaasen scored 2141 runs on ODIs at an average of just under 44 in the middle order. His power-hitting prowess was on full display during a blistering career-best 174 against Australia at his home ground, SuperSport Park, in 2023 - the second highest score ever recorded by a number five.

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 that supported me and my teammates during my career.

Renowned for his dominance against spin, Klaasen also scored 1000 T20I runs for his country, striking at a rate of 141.84. His ability to take on bowling attacks with calculated aggression made him a mainstay in South Africa’s limited-overs setup.

Read Also: Carlsen’s Early Coach Turns Chaplain, Uses Chess to Reach Prisoners

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!