South Africa veteran batter Rassie van der Dussen, who turned 36 earlier this month, has given a big hint about his retirement during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and Dubai. The star batter currently plays only one format for South Africa, though he has been capped in all three. He believes this could be the last ICC tournament of his career.
South Africa are currently in Pakistan preparing for their third league match of the Champions Trophy which will take place on February 29 at National Stadium in Karachi.
"It's definitely a possibility that it's my last ICC tournament. I'm not saying that with any preconceived ideas that I'll call time on it or management will call time on my career. It's just the reality," van der Dussen said from Karachi.
"It's such a great thing that there's so many young players coming through, guys really playing well. A guy like Tristan Stubbs, he's sitting on the sidelines. Or Tony de Zorzi. And even if you go into the domestic structure, Matthew Breetzke came in and made that 150. You can even go further back, Lhuan-dre Pretorius just made hundred against Western Province in the one-day cup. Ryan's [Rickelton] only starting out now actually so there's so many good players. I'm not blind to the possibility that if I don't perform that someone won't be there to take my place. I certainly don't expect any preferential treatment because I think in a healthy environment, guys push each other organically and that pushes everyone to be better" added Van der Dussen.
Rassie van der Dussen has played 18 Test matches, 69 ODIs and 50 T20Is and scored 905, 2516, 1257 runs respectively.
South Africa have won their first Champions Trophy group stage match against Afghanistan and their third clash washed out due to rain. The Proteas will lock horns against England for their third league match of the mega event. South Africa will qualify for the semifinal is they won their third league match against England.