Klusener is suing the South African cricket board for loss of earnings

Klusener claims he turned down offers of work with English counties after being assured that he would be included in the squad, despite being rested for the previous tour to Bangladesh.

"It's like your boss calling you on a Saturday night and saying, 'Sorry, old chap, but you don't have to come to work on Monday. You're fired'," he told South African magazine You.

"Some people may think it's sour grapes, but that's not true at all.

"England would have been a highlight for me. I wanted to play at Lord's again. I played for South Africa with pride for eight years. I gave my all."

Why is it if you don't want to be part of the crowd you're always seen as different? Lance Klusener

Klusener, a veteran of 48 Tests and 154 one-day internationals, was man of the tournament at the 1999 World Cup in England.

But the all-rounder's last game in the South Africa shirt was the infamous match against Sri Lanka, which saw the hosts eliminated from the 2003 tournament.

Klusener was quoted afterwards as having asked tearful team-mates what all the fuss was about.

And new captain Graeme Smith described the veteran as a disruptive force who can "infect a team".

But Klusener retorted: "I'm a private person. I hate being around lots of people. It saps my energy.

"Why is it if you don't want to be part of the crowd you're always seen as different?"

The United Cricket Board of South Africa is aware Klusener is taking legal action.

But a spokesman told the BBC Sport website earlier this month the board had been advised by lawyers to make no further comment.