Heinrich Klaasen’s international future appears uncertain after he was left out of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) 18-player central contracts list for the upcoming season. Klaasen, who stepped away from Test cricket in January 2024, had a white-ball-only contract last year but is reportedly leaning toward focusing on his T20 franchise commitments.
CSA confirmed ongoing discussions about Klaasen’s status, stating that “a final decision will be made in due course.”
Meanwhile, David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen have opted for hybrid contracts, allowing them to feature in selected bilateral series and ICC events while maintaining flexibility to play in overseas leagues. Both players are currently signed to teams in The Hundred, which overlaps with South Africa’s white-ball tour of Australia scheduled from August 10 to 24.
New Additions and Notable Omissions
Among the new names in the central contract list are 18-year-old left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka, allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, and pacer Lizaad Williams, who is recovering from knee surgery. David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, and Kyle Verreynne — all of whom were awarded mid-season upgrades last year — have been retained. Fast bowler Nandre Burger, though yet to feature this season due to a stress fracture, also keeps his spot.
Bjorn Fortuin and Andile Phehlukwayo, along with Klaasen, are the only players to lose their contracts. Tabraiz Shamsi, who declined a deal last year, and Anrich Nortje, who did not sign in the previous cycle, remain absent from the list.
Key Inclusions
The contract list features both South Africa’s captains: Temba Bavuma (Tests and ODIs) and Aiden Markram (T20Is), as well as their first-choice bowling unit: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj. Regular Test players like Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham are included, as are dynamic all-format players Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton.
This group is expected to form the core for upcoming challenges such as the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June, the 2026 T20 World Cup, and South Africa’s long-term build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup on home soil.
CSA’s Strategic Direction
Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s Director of National Teams and High Performance, said the selections are made with an eye on key global events:
“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.
The hybrid contracts take into consideration the dynamic nature of modern-day cricket and will provide David and Rassie with the opportunity to contribute during specific bilateral tours and ICC events.”
Looking Ahead
South Africa last appeared in the Champions Trophy semi-final, where they lost to New Zealand. Next on the calendar is the WTC final, followed by an extensive period of away tours, including:
- Tests and a T20I series in Zimbabwe (July)
- White-ball series in Australia and England
- Test matches in Pakistan
- An all-format tour of India to close out the year
The white-ball setup is also set for a leadership change after coach Rob Walter’s resignation. Test coach Shukri Conrad is the frontrunner to take over the limited-overs side. Conrad was also central to Klaasen’s Test retirement after initially selecting him ahead of Verreynne, only to reverse that decision — a shift that contributed to Klaasen stepping away from red-ball cricket.
Full Central Contract List (2025)
Central Contracts:
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
