SA’s Klaasen Calls for More Bilateral Matches

South Africa’s middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen voiced a desire for more matches in the bilateral series to help South Africa’s team build momentum and sharpen their competitive edge. Reflecting on the limited schedule, Klaasen mentioned the upcoming fourth T20I against India, in which South Africa cannot secure the series. He wished for longer series to keep players engaged and the competition dynamic: "It would be great if we could play five-match series again. Imagine we win Friday’s game and have a fifth to decide the series."

South Africa’s recent schedule has featured mostly short series, with limited Test matches as well. Klaasen lamented the lack of longer contests, especially for the Test team, which primarily plays two-Test series, calling it "disappointing" and "annoying." Despite stepping back from Test cricket in January, Klaasen continues to champion South African cricket's need for more frequent and longer series across formats, as shorter series can hinder the team’s ability to gain and sustain form.

While India and England regularly operate split squads to balance busy international calendars, Klaasen points out that South Africa's player pool has rarely afforded them the same flexibility. Earlier this year, South Africa’s Test team went 0-2 in New Zealand due to key players missing the tour for contractual obligations in the SA20 league. Despite challenges, South Africa remains in the running for the World Test Championship final if they win their remaining home Tests this season.

Klaasen also supported his captain, Aiden Markram, who has struggled to find form, notably scoring just 29 in the third T20I against India after getting dismissed while on the verge of a big score.

"People need to understand the pressure," Klaasen remarked. "If you made one mistake, and it’s over—that’s a lot of weight."

Klaasen, too, has felt the ups and downs of form this season, playing 55 T20 matches across various leagues and scoring at a strong strike rate of 164.32, his highest in any year. Having dealt with personal matters and breaks in his playing time, he hopes to regain momentum with more playing opportunities.

“I understand my game better than ever. It's been a long year, a tough year, but still a fantastic one,” he reflected.