Heinrich Klaasen has retired from international cricket a few days ago. The reason for taking such a decision at the age of just 33 is to focus more on franchise cricket. The South African wicketkeeper-batsman believes that bilateral ODI series should be eliminated from international cricket.
In an interview with Indian cricket website Cricbuzz, Klaasen said, “I think the change that should be made in the cricket calendar is to remove bilateral ODI series from international cricket. Instead, more Test matches should be played.”
“Especially for the teams that don’t get much opportunity to play Tests. And there should be more T20 matches, because that’s what people want to watch. The ODI World Cup can be kept, and each team will play five matches in the month before the World Cup, so that everyone can adapt to the format,” he added.
Recently, apart from Klaasen, several other cricketers have retired from international cricket despite having the ability to play for the national team. This list includes in-form cricketers like Glenn Maxwell and Nicholas Pooran.
While searching for the reason for his reluctance to play for the national team, Klaasen said, “There is no need for a big change in this format. The real problem is with the international teams. If they do not take good care of their international cricketers, then these players will go to different leagues for extra income. If you look at the players in Australia and England, they are well taken care of, so they do not need to travel around the world to play these leagues.”
“Now it depends on the ICC. They have to say, we need some players, so we have to spend some extra money to give them a good rest. I don’t think it is sustainable for players to play all leagues and all formats. You will see players giving more importance to certain formats. Those who play all formats, they will not be able to play leagues, and they will not be able to play all formats for the international team. Because they will eventually get tired,” he added.
FAQ
What did Heinrich Klaasen say about ODI cricket?
Klaasen suggested that bilateral One Day Internationals (ODIs) should be scrapped, saying they no longer hold much value for players or fans.
What are bilateral ODIs?
Bilateral ODIs are three- or five-match ODI series played between two countries outside of major tournaments like the World Cup or Champions Trophy.
Why does Klaasen want ODIs to end?
Klaasen believes ODIs don’t attract as much interest anymore and lack the excitement of T20s or the prestige of Test matches. He thinks they feel meaningless without a larger context.
What formats does Klaasen prefer?
Heinrich Klaasen wants to see more Test matches and more T20 games, which he feels are more relevant and exciting for modern fans.
Is Klaasen the first cricketer to speak against bilateral ODIs?
No, several players and experts have raised similar concerns in recent years, especially with the growing popularity of T20 leagues and a packed international calendar.
