Former South Africa cricketer Heinrich Klaasen opened up about his decision to retire from international cricket just after he stepped away from the Test format. Klaasen played the Champions Trophy and was hoping to continue playing till the 2027 ODI World Cup but his mind changed after head coach Rob Walter resigned.
Recently, Klaasen spoke that he was not in the right headspace and no longer found the joy in playing the game. He also added that stepping away from the game will allow him to focus on his family as well.
“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. I had a long conversation with Rob [Walter] before the Champions Trophy, and I told him I didn’t feel good in my heart about what was going on. I wasn’t enjoying it that much,” Wisden quoted Klaasen as saying to Rapport.
“We talked nicely, we planned everything nicely up to and including the World Cup in 2027. So when he finished as coach and the [contract] negotiations [with CSA] didn’t go as planned, it made my decision a lot easier,” he added.
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“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,” said Klaasen,” he pointed out.