CSA excluded Heinrich Klaasen from their 18-member central contract list for the upcoming season.
Heinrich Klaasen’s international future appears uncertain after he was omitted from Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) central contract list for the 2025–26 season. The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who retired from Test cricket in January 2024, held a white-ball only contract in the previous cycle and is believed to be prioritising opportunities in T20 leagues around the world.
In a statement, CSA said, “Discussions regarding his future are ongoing and a final decision will be made in due course,” as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Fellow senior players David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen, who also held white-ball only deals last year, have accepted hybrid contracts. These agreements will allow them to “participate in specific agreed-upon bilateral tours and ICC events.”
Both Klaasen and Miller are signed up for The Hundred, a tournament that will overlap with South Africa’s white-ball tour of Australia scheduled from August 10 to 24.
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Among the new faces on the 18-player central contract list are allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, 18-year-old left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka, and fast bowler Lizaad Williams, who has been recovering from knee surgery.
CSA also retained David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, and Kyle Verreynne, all of whom received contract upgrades midway through last season. Left-arm pacer Nandre Burger, who is recovering from a stress fracture and hasn’t featured in a match this year, also kept his place. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin and allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo, along with Klaasen, were the only players to lose their contracts. Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who opted out of his deal last October, and pacer Anrich Nortje, who did not sign a contract last year, also remain off the list.
The contract group includes Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma and T20I skipper Aiden Markram. Key fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj are also retained. Test batters Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham feature in the group, along with all-format talents Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton.
CSA’s selection reflects their long-term focus, particularly towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June and the T20 World Cup next year. “All of these players have been contracted with the importance of the next World Test Championship cycle and the 2027 Cricket World Cup on home soil in mind,” said Enoch Nkwe, Director of National Teams and High Performance.
