Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen retired from international cricket this week.
Klaasen, whose Test career ended early last year, retired from ODI and T20I cricket on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Klaasen did not sign a Cricket South Africa contract. Conrad, meanwhile, has insisted on more availability for national selection ahead of participation in T20 domestic leagues around the world.
Klaasen was with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League recently. He’ll be with the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket in the United States of America this month.
“Obviously, if you lose a player of the calibre of Heinrich Klaasen, you’d be disappointed,” said Conrad.
“But if that’s the narrative that you want to espouse, that I’m the common factor, then be my guest. I haven’t even had a conversation with Heinrich. He turned down the contract long before I was even a thought in the white-ball space.
“It’s really unfortunate that we lose a player of his calibre. He’s one of the best in the world, if not the best, among the white ball middle-order batters.
“I‘d be disappointed if it Klaasen retiring to favour leagues was, because we didn’t have a conversation. I think if guys pre-signed deals prior to me coming on board, I certainly wasn’t going to come in there and say, ‘Well, you have got to withdraw from whatever you pre-signed.’
“So without us ever having a conversation, I’d be disappointed if that was why he retired. From the little bit I know, I know Heinrich from way back when he was at the academy, kept in the academy sides when I was the coach.
“I’d be very surprised if he was as short-sighted as that. I think he’s obviously got really good reasons for why he’s retired, and we’ve got to respect that.”
Heinrich Klaasen.
Klaasen played four Tests, 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is from 2018 to 2025. He hit four centuries in international cricket.
“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,” said Klaasen.
“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 that changed my life, and to those people I can’t say thank you enough.
“My road to wearing the Proteas shirt was different than most and there were certain coaches in my career that kept believing in me – to them I will always be grateful.
“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 team-mates during my career.”
MORE latest SA cricket news
- Kagiso Rabada: Life moves on – I’ll never be ‘Mr I Apologise’ too much
- Andrew Hudson: It’s probably the ideal situation for us to play Australia one-off
- Fanie de Villiers: Test cricket is not for sissies
- AB de Villiers: Proteas have built a culture that seems to be working really well
- Stephen Cook: Nathan Lyon is Australia’s extra potency and secret sauce
- Alviro Petersen: I think Ryan Rickelton will be okay at Lord’s
- SA guaranteed R39 million for reaching WTC final – R26 million more if they beat Australia