Follow UsAre Heinrich Klaasen’s international cricket days over? No one can say that for sure, but the latest central contract list released by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on April 7 (Monday) suggests something along those lines. Klaasen was not named in the 18-man list.
Previously, Klaasen was named in the central contracts for 2024 in the white-ball-only category and this year, he has not been named at all.
Apart from Klaasen, David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen, two of the senior members of the Proteas men’s side, also accepted Hybrid contracts, which means that they will be available to play certain pre-decided bilateral series and all ICC events.
"The hybrid contracts take into consideration the dynamic nature of modern-day cricket and will provide David and Rassie with the opportunity to contribute to the team during specific bilateral tours and ICC events,” Enoch Nkwe, Director of National Teams and High Performance, said in a statement by the CSA.
Since Rob Walter resigned from South Africa’s head coach position in whiteball cricket, Shukri Conrad, the Test head coach, is the front-runner to take over. Conrad was the coach when Klaasen retired from Tests in 2024 and he, now declining the central contract altogether, reeks of some sort of disambiguity regarding the top batter’s priority with the national team.
South Africa will participate in the World Test Champions (WTC) Final in June 2025 and will host the 2027 ODI World Cup as well.
South Africa's Men's Central Contract List
Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams
Hybrid contracts: David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen