from The Independent September 04, 2002 (thanks Jenny)
A refreshed Shaun Pollock returned to Durban on Wednesday after a season with
Warwickshire in the English County Championship, and said he was looking forward to
leading South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo, starting next week.
He believes it's a tournament that his team have to win as they desperately want to get
back to their winning ways.
Losing in the Morocco Cup final against Sri Lanka, according to Pollock, still hurts but
he wants to put that behind him and be successful in Colombo over the next few weeks.
"It's a lovely tournament to participate in, especially if you are building for the
new season. Things were starting to fall into place for us in the Morocco Cup tournament
and I'm positive we can take it a step further and get our game together in Sri
Lanka."
'That's the one we want to win - it's eluded us on three occasions and now's the time to
strike'
While he admits that the ICC Champions Trophy event is an important tournament, he
believes it's a stepping stone towards the bigger picture in the form of the ICC Cricket
World Cup in February-March next year.
"Everything is geared towards that event. We want to improve all the time and if we
win a tournament it will give us the confidence going into the World Cup. That's the one
we want to win - it's eluded us on three occasions and now's the time to strike," he
said.
The South African captain, looking a lot leaner and fitter, said he had been in touch with
the national coach over the squad's preparation for the Sri Lanka tour and was happy to
hear that his players had worked hard at their game at the weekend training camp.
Pollock said he will be resting up for the next few days before joining the rest of the
squad in Johannesburg at the weekend.
"I don't think I'll be at the nets in the next few days. I've chatted with Eric
(Simons) and have decided to take things easy for the rest of the week," he said.
The South African captain said he enjoyed a season in the English conditions and got to
know a lot more about his ability and his game while he was in Birmingham.
He said: "It was very interesting and really successful. We were second in the
championship, third in the Sunday League and we won the Benson & Hedges Cup when I
left."
Meanwhile, South African coach Eric Simons expressed relief on Wednesday that a row over
contracts had been sorted out ahead of his team's departure for Sri Lanka.
The South African team agreed on Tuesday to sign contracts demanded by the International
Cricket Council, leaving India as the only participating nation whose players have yet to
agree terms.
"I am glad it is sorted out," said Simons. "Although it did not affect our
preparation for the tournament, the players wanted to get it out of the way."
The South African players, who had already missed a deadline last Friday for signing of
the contracts, declared a deadlock Monday when they rejected terms offered by the United
Cricket Board (UCB).
But agreement was reached when UCB chief executive Gerald Majola and SA Cricketers
Association chief executive Tony Irish met in Cape Town Tuesday.
Majola and Irish said the deal struck was only for the Champions Trophy. There will be
further negotiations after the tournament between the players and the UCB on issues
affecting future deals.
Irish said the players wanted to resolve all issues well in advance of the World Cup in
South Africa in February and March next year.
"This was about getting the UCB out of a hole after they delivered the players rights
to the ICC," said Irish, referring to an agreement by ICC member countries in 2000 on
measures to protect the rights of major sponsors and to prevent "ambush"
marketing.
The two parties did not specify whether the deal struck provides for more money for the
players. -