Former Proteas batsman Rassie van der Dussen has opened up about the breakdown in his relationship with coach Shukri Conrad and CSA.
The 37-year-old, who was not considered for the Proteas’ 2026 T20 World Cup squad, announced his retirement from international cricket last week.
“I don’t think I have much of a relationship with Shukri,” Van der Dussen told SportsBoom.co.za.
“We were more professional in our relationship up until five months ago when he stopped talking to me.”
Van der Dussen had previously mentioned that he felt that he had not batted in his ideal position in the seven T20Is he played last year in the build-up to the World Cup – five during a Tri-Nations series in Zimbabwe in July, where he was captain, and two in Australia in August where he batted at No 6.
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After raising concerns with Conrad, Van der Dussen said communication between the pair ceased.
Late last month, CSA released the list of contracted national players for the 2026-27 season, with Van der Dussen and David Miller the notable omissions.
Van der Dussen says he was only informed of the decision a day before the list was made public – his first contact with CSA in months.
“They basically informed me that they were not going to renew my contract and that they were announcing the contracts the following day,” he said of the hastily called meeting with convenor of selectors Patrick Moroney and director of cricket Enoch Nkwe.
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It was Van der Dussen’s first contact with Moroney since October last year when he told he wasn’t in T20 World Cup squad contention.
“I subsequently asked him, ‘Are you telling me that a contracted player who’s played over 50 T20Is, only months out from the World Cup, that there’s no way that I can earn my place?’ It doesn’t matter who the player is; how do you tell a player that there is no way that you can work your way into the squad?”
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Van der Dussen stressed that he remained grateful for his time in the Proteas setup and was speaking out to ensure that what happened to him doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“I share these things objectively. I don’t want there to be any bitterness conveyed on my side because I’m not bitter. I’m very privileged to have had a good career and privileged to have done what I did.
“If these things are left subjectively to one or two decision-makers and are not addressed, then the same things will happen going forward.”
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
