He was the first pick in the men’s Hundred draft earlier this month and will now be available to play for London Spirit for the majority of the tournament and will consider returning to county cricket for the first time since 2011, a move which would see him spend around three months in England this summer.
ESPNcricinfo understands that at least two counties have enquired about Pollard’s availability for the Blast, which runs from May 25 – four days after his IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, play their final game in this year’s IPL – until July 16.
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Pollard previously spent two seasons with Somerset in 2010 and 2011 where he was hugely successful, averaging 34.58 with the bat at a strike rate of 169.94 and taking 41 wickets in 28 appearances.
It is understood that Somerset are in the market for another overseas signing for the Blast – likely to be a batter or a batting allrounder – despite the fact that Marchant de Lange and Peter Siddle are both under contract for the tournament, but the club have privately played down the prospect of Pollard returning.
Northamptonshire are one of the few other counties with a vacant overseas spot for the Blast and had agreed a deal with Pollard in 2020 before the tournament was postponed due to the pandemic.
However, it is understood that they have already agreed terms with another overseas batter whose signing will be announced in the coming weeks, with Chris Lynn’s name discussed at length. Northants have previously confirmed the signing of James Neesham, the New Zealand allrounder, as their other Blast overseas player.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
Source: ESPN Crickinfo