"No, unfortunately not": SRH's Heinrich Klaasen shuts the door on 2027 World Cup return but opens a new one in Rotterdam
"No, unfortunately not": SRH's Heinrich Klaasen shuts the door on 2027 World Cup return but opens a new one in Rotterdam originally appeared on Cricket News . Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . KEY TAKEAWAYS: Heinrich Klaasen rules out an international comeback with South Africa for the 2027 World Cup.
The SRH star sits second on IPL 2026's Orange Cap list with 414 runs. Kevin Pietersen urged the finisher to return to the Proteas squad for World Cup 2027. Klaasen shuts the door on international return for 2027 World Cup Heinrich Klaasen has shut down speculations about a potential return to international cricket with South Africa before the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup despite a fervent plea from ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen.
When the batsman walked away from international cricket in June 2025, it caught a lot of people off guard. He was 33, in the form of his life, and had just played a central role in South Africa's run to the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Retired players often leave when their best days are behind them.
Klaasen left while his best days were arguably still ahead of him, and the numbers since have done nothing to make that decision look any less puzzling. Nearly a year on, the 34-year-old is still one of the most feared batters in franchise cricket anywhere on the planet. And yet, he made it clear that going back to wear the Proteas jersey is simply not something he is thinking about.
What did Heinrich Klaasen say? Former England captain Kevin Pietersen had recently called on Cricket South Africa to pick up the phone and bring Klaasen back into the national setup, particularly with the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon. The answer, at least for now, is a firm no.