New York: Nicholas Pooran and Heinrich Klaasen, two explosive middle-order batters, have retired from international cricket, but their departures may not be as impactful as they seem.
Both men will return to action almost immediately, not in national colours, but as captains in the third season of Major League Cricket in the United States. Pooran will lead MI New York, while Klaasen will captain Seattle Orcas. Pooran announced on Monday night, just a week after Klaasen.
This quick turnaround highlights how retirement from international cricket no longer means abandoning the sport entirely; instead, it means shifting to more lucrative and flexible franchise commitments.
Pooran and Klaasen were among the top six hitters in the modern game. In 2023, Pooran shattered Chris Gayle’s T20 record, hitting 170 sixes in a calendar year. Klaasen wasn’t far behind, with 105.
Their strike power places them in elite company, yet international cricket rarely saw their full potential. Klaasen played just 23 of his 118 white-ball internationals in ICC events, and Pooran played only 24 of 167.
Most of their games lacked real stakes, as white-ball bilateral series have become commercially weak and competitively irrelevant. The demise of the ODI Super League in 2023 only worsened this trend.
These retirements reveal the structure of modern international cricket more than the players themselves. For Pooran and Klaasen, international duty demanded time and travel without matching financial or competitive rewards.
Next year, playing in the T20 World Cup would require Klaasen to appear in most of South Africa’s 23 scheduled T20Is and perhaps even 12 ODIs—largely inconsequential until the tournament nears.
West Indies have 25 T20Is in the same span. This calendar leaves little incentive for players who can earn significantly more in franchise leagues while playing fewer, more meaningful matches.
The decision also reflects broader disparities in global cricket economics. Andre Russell recently noted that players from smaller boards like the West Indies and South Africa receive less support and have fewer long-term benefits after retirement.
Without strong Test careers or central contracts, many have little to show for international service. Pooran and Klaasen’s choices underline how players today prioritize sustainability and value over sentiment.
Their exits might seem like a loss for international cricket, but the system rarely showcased their peak talents. Their retirements do not reject cricket but reflect how the game and its career choices have changed.
