Kieron Pollard to join Northants for T20 Blast

The 32-year-old has signed to play eight games through the middle stages of the competition's group stage, beginning on June 5 against Durham – the club’s first home game

West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard will join Northamptonshire for part of their T20 Blast campaign.

The 32-year-old has signed to play eight games through the middle stages of the competition's group stage, beginning on June 5 against Durham – the club’s first home game.

The Trinidad and Tobago-born allrounder has played 499 T20 matches – more than anyone else in world cricket, and Northants will become the 30th professional team of his career.

“Visa criteria permit, I see this as a wonderful opportunity to be back in England again playing in the action-packed Vitality Blast tournament.” Pollard said.

“I want to thank Northants for welcoming me to their group of exciting players. I know they have some amazing fans and I look forward to entertaining them and bringing more success to the club.”

Head coach David Ripley added: “I’ve spoken to many people about Kieron and the biggest factor you get from everyone is that he’s a winner, he’s got a fantastic record in winning t20 comps, just an absolute competitor.

“It helps the teams he plays for that he can bowl the big overs, field in key positions and whack it out of any cricket ground in the world.”

^{Pollard will lead West Indies at the T20 World Cup, looking to retain the crown they won in 2016}

Pollard’s stint at Wantage Road, which remains subject to receiving a no-objection certificate from the national governing body of West Indian cricket, will be his first in English cricket since he represented Somerset almost a decade ago.

His compatriot Jason Holder was an overseas player at the club in 2019 and Pollard will be using the tournament as part of his preparations for the T20 World Cup, which follows later in 2020.

“We’ve actually won a trophy together before at the Dhaka Gladiators,” Northants captain Josh Cobb added, “though I’m not sure he’ll remember that, so hopefully we can get another one together this year in the Blast.”

Pollard follows Pakistan bowler Faheem Ashraf, who has already signed for the initial part of the tournament, in joining the club. Dutch seamer Brandon Glover, meanwhile, also signed a three-year deal with the county earlier this week.