Klaasen had initially set his sights on playing through to the 2027 World Cup. However, a combination of factors, including the recent resignation of white-ball coach Rob Walter and growing personal dissatisfaction with the game, led him to step away sooner than expected.
Speaking to Rapport, as quoted by Wisden, Klaasen opened up about the emotional weight behind his decision:
“For a long time, I just didn’t care about how I performed or whether the team won. That’s not where any player should be. Before the Champions Trophy, I had a long talk with Rob [Walter] and told him something didn’t feel right in my heart. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore.”
He added that while he and Walter had mapped out a plan to continue through 2027, the coaching change and failed contract negotiations with Cricket South Africa helped solidify his decision:
“We had a good plan going all the way to the World Cup. But once Rob stepped down and things didn’t go smoothly with CSA, it made the choice easier.”
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Klaasen later shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, calling it a difficult but peaceful decision:
“It’s a sad day for me as I announce my retirement from international cricket. It took a long time to figure out what’s best for me and my family. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve made peace with it. Representing South Africa has been the greatest privilege of my life—something I dreamed of as a boy.”
The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter featured in all three formats for the Proteas, playing 4 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 58 T20Is since making his debut in 2018. Over his career, he scored 3,145 runs, including four international centuries—all in the ODI format.
