Chase heats up for Pollock

The news of Shaun Pollock’s international retirement has triggered a heated chase for his signature on the English county circuit. Warwickshire, Yorkshire and Sussex are reported to be actively pursuing the South African allrounder.

Pollock, 34, boasts the calibre of 421 Test wickets and 387 ODI wickets. And now that he is no longer committed to South Africa, his services are in high demand.

Due to the lack of fitness of Naved-ul-Hasan, Yorkshire have declared their interest in Pollock. “We have made enquiries about him,” Stewart Regan, the Yorkshire chief executive, told the Yorkshire Post. “He’s due to play in the Indian Premier League and I don’t think he would be available for the whole of the rest of the season.”

Regan stated that Naved-ul-Hasan will be given due opportunity, however, and that the club has put back his deadline for recovery from a shoulder injury. The Pakistan seamer is on a two-year contract with Yorkshire.

“We will assess him [Naved-ul-Hasan] properly on January 31 and make a final decision,” said Regan, “We know he is training hard and is very keen.”

Should Pollock sign for Sussex, he would do so under Kolpak ruling. The county has already signed Mushtaq Ahmed as its overseas player. Warwickshire is the front runner for his signature, however. Pollock took four wickets in four balls on his debut for the county in 1996.