Earning big bucks from globetrotting franchise gigs never a temptation: Heinrich Klaasen chose domestic grind to represent country
Just before the pandemic set in March, Mandla Mashimbyi the head coach at the Titans in South Africa, remembers a dejected Heinrich Klaasen showing up at Centurion. Overlooked by the Proteas for over a year, Klaasen had announced himself big time with a man of the series performance in the ODI series against Australia at home. He even scored his maiden century then, before finding his name missing from Cricket South Africa’s annual contract. After missing out on the 2019 World Cup, his career was once again at crossroads even as South Africa had taken baby steps from moving on from big names for the 2023 edition.
With domestic T20 leagues sprouting up and normal service resuming post-pandemic, Klaasen could have been easily allured by the big money contracts that came his way. A natural...