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Delhi: South African veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton Dickock retired from international ODI cricket after the 2023 ODI Cup. His last ODI was a semi -final against Australia. However, when Dickock’s name for the ODI series against Pakistan was included in the squad, all were shocked. Dickock has now revealed that continuous travel and pressure with the national team broke them inside.

Dickock said in a conversation with ‘Sunday Times’, “I was very tired at that time. For more than a decade, I played for the Protiaz team. Representing the country and constantly touring me was broken from inside. It is very difficult to mentally, especially when you face defeat and expectations are very high.”

There was hesitation in talking to the coach

Dickock said that it was easy for him to talk to the team’s head coach Shukri Konrad because there is transparency between the two, but still it was not easy to talk about a return to the team. He said, “It was easy to talk to Shukri because both of us are honest towards each other, but that phone call was not easy.”

Shocks of defeat in World Cup

Dickock is still sad for defeat in big tournaments. Defeat in the semi -finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 T20 World Cup finals shook him. He admitted that it is very difficult to endure defeat in such matches and also mentally tired.

New responsibility after Klassen’s retirement

Recently, Heinrich Klassen has retired from international cricket. Despite this, South Africa does not have a shortage of options. Matthew Bretzke has been given the captaincy in this series and he himself is a wicketkeeper.

Dickock’s eye on World Cup 2027

Now that Dickock has returned to the team again, he has made it clear that he is committed to play in the ODI World Cup to be held in his country in 2027. However, he is currently focusing on the series.