Klaasen Excluded from SA's Central Contract; Miller, van der Dussen Opt for Hybrid Deals
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Synopsis
Johannesburg, April 7 (NationPress) Heinrich Klaasen's international cricket career faces uncertainty following his exclusion from Cricket South Africa's (CSA) 18-player central contract list, effective from June 1 to May 31 next year. This shift may influence his future in the sport.
Key Takeaways
- Klaasen left out of CSA's central contract.
- Miller and van der Dussen to take hybrid contracts.
- New contracts for Lizaad Williams and Senuran Muthusamy.
- Upcoming season includes tours to Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Pakistan, and India.
- Major ICC events on the calendar include the WTC Final and T20 World Cup 2026.
Johannesburg, April 7 (NationPress) Heinrich Klaasen's international cricket journey faces uncertainty after his omission from Cricket South Africa's (CSA) 18-player central contract roster, effective from June 1 until May 31 of the following year.
Having stepped away from Test cricket in January 2024, Klaasen was previously on a white-ball-only contract and is believed to be prioritizing his T20 league endeavors going forward. In a statement, CSA noted that "discussions about his future are ongoing, and a conclusive decision will be made soon".
With the advent of hybrid contracts, David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen will be contracted to participate in specific agreed-upon bilateral tours and ICC events.
This season marks the first time national contracts have been awarded to seam bowler Lizaad Williams and all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy. They are joined by fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who made his international debut across all formats this past season.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder, batter David Bedingham, and Kyle Verreynne all received contract upgrades during the current season and have been retained for the upcoming season.
The contracts will cover a hectic season for the national team, featuring bilateral tours to Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Pakistan, and India, along with a home series against the West Indies.
The schedule will also include two significant ICC events: the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia, which will take place at Lord’s in England in June, and the T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka in early next year.
Enoch Nkwe, Director of National Teams and High Performance, stated, "I extend my congratulations to all players awarded national contracts for the upcoming 12 months, especially those receiving contracts for the first time. All contracted players have been selected with the next World Test Championship cycle and the 2027 Cricket World Cup on home soil in mind.
“The hybrid contracts reflect the dynamic nature of modern cricket and will allow David and Rassie to contribute to the team during specific bilateral tours and ICC events. An exhilarating season awaits as we strive for the WTC mace and aim for success in next year’s T20 World Cup. We wish all contracted players the best for the year ahead.”
SA men's contract list:
Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams
Hybrid contracts: David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen
