SOUTH African batsman Boeta Dippenaar has decided to end his international cricket career.
Dippenaar’s national contract expires at the end of April. He will not be available for the Proteas after that.”Even if I were in the national team now I would have announced my retirement at the end of the season,” Dippenaar said here on Tuesday.His decision to retire was due to be formally announced yesterday.Dippenaar, 30, is stepping down mainly for personal reasons.He may be giving up an international season or two by doing so, he says, but he wants to start concentrating on life after cricket.”Where my cricket career stands now, I have to make the tough call and step away,” he said.”I want to improve my qualifications for life after cricket.”Some people may question my decision but it is something that my wife and I have reached certainty about during the past year.”I am grateful for the opportunities I have had.I am grateful that I was able to represent my country and I wish the national team all the best.”Dippenaar will soon obtain his commercial licence as a helicopter pilot.He will continue as captain of the Diamond Eagles team and will also make his English county debut for Leicester later this year.”I am available (for the Proteas) until my contract expires,” he said.”I have also said so in my letter to (Cricket SA chief) Gerald Majola.”But I felt that because I am not in the team, it would be right to be open about how I see my future.”Dippenaar doubts that he will be considered for the national team again.The squad is well established and unless injuries change matters, he is unlikely to be needed.Sport24He will not be available for the Proteas after that.”Even if I were in the national team now I would have announced my retirement at the end of the season,” Dippenaar said here on Tuesday.His decision to retire was due to be formally announced yesterday.Dippenaar, 30, is stepping down mainly for personal reasons.He may be giving up an international season or two by doing so, he says, but he wants to start concentrating on life after cricket.”Where my cricket career stands now, I have to make the tough call and step away,” he said.”I want to improve my qualifications for life after cricket.”Some people may question my decision but it is something that my wife and I have reached certainty about during the past year.”I am grateful for the opportunities I have had.I am grateful that I was able to represent my country and I wish the national team all the best.”Dippenaar will soon obtain his commercial licence as a helicopter pilot.He will continue as captain of the Diamond Eagles team and will also make his English county debut for Leicester later this year.”I am available (for the Proteas) until my contract expires,” he said.”I have also said so in my letter to (Cricket SA chief) Gerald Majola.”But I felt that because I am not in the team, it would be right to be open about how I see my future.”Dippenaar doubts that he will be considered for the national team again.The squad is well established and unless injuries change matters, he is unlikely to be needed.Sport24
