Heinrich Klaasen has called for the Proteas to play more matches in bilateral series in all formats.

The Proteas are currently trailing India 2-1 in a T20I series, with the fourth and final match to be played at the Wanderers on Friday. With no potential decider, the best the hosts can hope for is a drawn series.

“That’s the nature of where we are as South African cricket. We don’t play five-match series any more,” Klaasen said after their 11-run loss in Centurion. “How nice would it be if we win on Friday, and then we have another game on Sunday, going into it 2-2?”

While Klaasen retired from Test cricket in January, he still cares about the longest format of the game.

“Our Test team is playing two-Test series, which is ridiculous in my eyes,” he said. “It’s disappointing, and it doesn’t sit well with the players, because we want to play more cricket against these guys, and against the other countries as well, but we always find a way to just play two games or three games, and it’s annoying.”

The Proteas’ last three-Test series took place in Australia in 2022-23 and they will have to wait until December 2026 to play another, against England in South Africa.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images