Rassie van der Dussen, a right-hand batsman for South Africa, said that the current event may be the last big ICC tournament of his cricketing career before their all-import match versus England in Karachi.

On Saturday, the Proteas will play their last group stage encounter of the championship at the National Stadium in Karachi against the Jos Buttler-led team.

“It’s possible that this may be my last ICC event. I’m not implying that I’ll give up on it or that management would end my career because of any predetermined notions. According to ESPNcricinfo, van der Dussen said, “It’s just the reality.”

The seasoned cricket player said that his single and greatest ambition has always been to play for his nation.
“Playing for the Proteas has always been my ultimate objective.

“Are you going to play leagues afterwards?” people ask me. I’m not sure. I’m not sure whether the idea of not playing for the Proteas will make me less eager to compete in the leagues. One of my main and only aspirations has always been to represent my nation, so I’m not sure what I’ll do if that doesn’t happen. “I will undoubtedly accept a new contract offer and commit for that duration,” van der Dussen said.

The 36-year-old concluded by praising the team’s young hitters, Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, and Matthew Breetzke, who are now competing with him in the Champions Trophy 2025, which is being held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The fact that so many young players are emerging and that they are doing so well is fantastic. He’s on the sidelines, a person like Tristan Stubbs. or Zorzi, Tony. And Matthew Breetzke made that 150 even if you look at the domestic framework. You may even go back farther; in the one-day cup, Lhuan-dre Pretorius recently scored a hundred against Western Province. There are a lot of talented guys because Ryan [Rickelton] is just getting started,” van der Dussen said.

Breetzke recently set an elusive milestone by being the first batsman to reach 150 runs in the men’s ODI debut during the ODI Tri-Series against Pakistan and New Zealand. In his 1978 ODI debut against Australia, the right-hander broke the record of veteran West Indies player Desmond Haynes, who scored 148 runs off 136 balls.

On the other side, Rickelton became the first South African player to hit a century on his ICC Champions Trophy debut in 2025, continuing his impressive comeback in all game forms. In the first match of his team’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Afghanistan in Karachi, the opener achieved this accomplishment.

Regarding the qualifying scenario for South Africa, they will advance with a victory against England in their last group-stage match.

If Australia defeats Afghanistan and England loses, the Temba Bavuma-led team may still advance. However, depending on their final outcomes, the Proteas would face the Aussies in a close NRR match if England wins their last game and Afghanistan defeats them.