Lizaad Williams, a South African fast bowler, faces the end of his international career with the Proteas after a knee injury and surgery led to the loss of his CSA contract, prompting his return to Boland to be closer to family. Picture: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix
Image: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix
It may have come as something of a surprise for fast bowler Lizaad Williams to not be included in the list of contracted players by Cricket South Africa (CSA) for the new season, but not for the player himself.
Williams, unlike Rassie van der Dussen, was kept in the loop about CSA moving on.
While Van der Dussen claimed Proteas coach Shukri Conrad simply stopped talking to him at some stage, Williams always knew where he stood with management.
However, it was a serious knee injury, and later surgery, which precipitated these talks.
“I had a big operation in October 2024, and since then, my form has fluctuated too much. That had a big role in me losing out on my CSA contract,” Williams told SportsBoom.co.za.
“They did contact me to say I won’t be having another contract. Obviously, it’s not nice, and you don’t wish for it to happen to anyone.”
Williams made his debut for South Africa as recently as 2021, and though he went on to play all three formats, he never really cemented a place for himself in the side.
Now aged 32, with his international career presumably over, Williams has played two Tests, eight ODIs, and 20 T20Is.
It was in the shortest format of the game that Williams proved most effective for the Proteas with 24 wickets at an average of 25 and a strike rate of 16.
Williams even went on to feature in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals, but his playing opportunities were cruelly cut short by the knee problem after just two games.
The player now leaves the Titans to head back to Boland, where the Williams hails from, as he will also now be closer to his family.