Former Proteas batsman Pite van Biljon retired from professional cricket this week.
Van Biljon, who played 10 T20Is from 2020 to 2021, had a first-class career that spanned 17 years.
“Just more than a month ago I got some bad news that I have a blood clot in my leg, and because I recently had blood clots in my lungs the doctors said for me it will be lifelong on blood thinners on anticoagulants,” van Biljon told OFM Sport.
“If you’re on that you can’t play professional cricket. You can’t face Anrich Nortje running in and bowling at your head. Because you’re on blood thinners it becomes a little too dangerous, or so they say.”
Van Biljon left the Knights for the KwaZulu-Natal Inland in 2023 – and also played first-class cricket for Northerns and Eastern Province.
“I’m very happy and I’ve had a long career. I probably started breaking through the ranks and franchise cricket a little bit later than I would have hoped for, but that kept me going for a few more years, so I’m very happy with the career I’ve had,” he added.
“The highlight is obviously playing for South Africa and captaining the Knights. The only regrets I’ve had was throwing my wicket away a few times too many times and I probably should have scored a few more runs.
“All in all, I’m very happy with how my career turned out, but obviously I’m very disappointed that it’s got to end this way.”