Warwickshire keen to sign Pollock

	Shaun Pollock in his younger days at Warwickshire. He made his debut in 1996 © Getty Images

Ashley Giles, Warwickshire's director of cricket, has expressed interest in signing Shaun Pollock, the South Africa allrounder who retired from international cricket on Friday.

"We were a bit surprised at the timing of Shaun's announcement," Giles said, "but, of course, we would be interested in signing Shaun. I would hope that he would give us the first bite of the cherry. He has played for Warwickshire before and knows the club well.

"He's a world-class cricketer and would bring experience to our side. As a player, he is the complete package."

Warwickshire are close to signing Monde Zondeki, another South African fast bowler, and Giles admitted they would consider employing Pollock - who first played for Warwickshire in 1996 - as a Kolpak player.

"We are quite a long way down the road with Monde, and it's still possible he might play for us during the first half of the season and then be involved in South Africa's tour of England," Giles said. "If that was the case, we might consider signing Shaun as a Kolpak player but then not sign an overseas replacement."

Pollock left the Test arena with 421 victims, and bowed out on his home ground in Durban after South Africa's 2-1 series win over West Indies. The forthcoming one-day series will be his last appearance for South Africa.