South African wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen on Tuesday revealed about his battle with coronavirus and said that he could not run 20-30 meters, or do anything for two or three minutes without his heart rate going up too high. 

Heinrich Klaasen was among the three members of the South Africa contingent who got infected with Coronavirus despite being inside the bio-bubble for the white-ball series against England in November and December. 

PAK v SA 2021: Heinrich Klaasen named South Africa captain for T20Is against Pakistan

Reflecting on his battle with COVID-19 Heinrich Klaasen said that he could not do anything for two or three months without his heart rate going through the roof. 

"The first 16 or 17 days I couldn't really do much. I was very ill. The problem came with the fact that I could not start exercising. Or I could start exercising again, but I could not run 20-30 meters, or do anything for two or three minutes without my heart rate going up too high," Heinrich Klaasen, who will captain South Africa in the T20I series against Pakistan, told ESPNCricinfo.

Klaasen further said that he was unable to follow CSA's return to play plan and added that it took him a long time to get his heart rate under control.

"There are protocols that one has to follow to be able to rebuild your workload but I could not stick to that program. It is a very simple program where you exercise for 10-15 minutes a day and (do exercises) like walking 200 meters. 

“It took me a long time to just get my heart rate under control so that I could exercise at least a little bit without getting past the phase where it is too dangerous," he said. 

However, with some key players returning home after the recently concluded Test series, Heinrich Klaasen has been given the responsibility to lead the South Africa side for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan which is set to begin from 11th February 

(ANI inputs)