from Cricinfo April 03 2002
As an indication of the problem facing English county clubs with the hiring
of overseas players, Warwickshire have come to an agreement with the United
Cricket Board of South Africa that Shaun Pollock will not play in Norwich Union
League matches for the county this season.
Originally, the UCB had favoured their captain taking the whole of the period of
the English summer off so that he could conserve his energies for the World Cup,
scheduled to be played in South Africa in 2003. However, Warwickshire have
managed to arrive at a suitable compromise with the UCB that will satisfy
everyone.
Warwickshire coach, Bob Woolmer, who used to be in charge of the South African
national side, had already resigned himself to losing Pollock for the end of the
season, when he would be required for national duty during a limited-overs
series in Morocco and then the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.
The announcement that Australia will be playing against Pakistan in June with
three one-day internationals in a week will cause additional concern to counties
as international commitments encroach further into the English season.
With the Tangier tournament likely to involve South Africa, Sri Lanka and
Pakistan, and Pakistan now going to Australia, several counties are likely to be
without their overseas players for a significant period of the summer.