Shaun Pollock, who is leading Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League in the absence of injured Sachin Tendulkar, has been appointed as the newest member of the Marylebone Cricket Club's World Cricket Committee, the custodians of the game's laws.
Break will help us re-focus: Pollock
The former South African captain, who retired from the international cricket earlier this year, has accepted the invitation from MCC's World Cricket Committee Chairman and former England captain Tony Lewis, a media release said.
The committee is to meet at Lord's on May 12 and 13 and discuss a wide-ranging issues, including the effects that worldwide Twenty20 leagues might have on the format of international cricket, a consideration of players conduct and a look at technology and the proposed Umpire Decision Review System.
Lewis, MCC Secretary and Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, and MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson, visited India recently and held discussions with three MCC World Cricket Committee Members actively involved in the IPL.
They talked to Pollock and Bangalore Royal Challengers' captain Rahul Dravid, on the playing side, and Martin Crowe, who is Chief Cricket Officer of the Bangalore franchise outfit, the release said.
But Pollock, Dravid, India Test captain Anil Kumble and Crowe would be unable to attend the committee's meeting at Lords next week due to their commitments in the IPL, but have had prior consultation with Lewis, it explained further.
Speaking about his selection on the committee, Pollock said that he was delighted to join it at this point of time when there are challenges that the game has to confront.
"I am honoured and delighted to be joining MCC's World Cricket Committee at such an interesting time for the sport.
The challenge for cricket is to embrace change for the good of the game whilst celebrating its rich heritage and MCC's World Cricket Committee has a huge role to play in this respect.
"A lifetime's involvement in cricket has given me so many great experiences and I hope my knowledge of the game can be beneficial to the work of MCC's World Cricket Committee. It's a huge honour to be asked to contribute and I'm greatly looking forward to my next challenge in the game," Pollock said.
The full list of Committee members is as follows: Tony Lewis (Chairman), Mike Atherton, Mike Brearley, Geoffrey Boycott (all England), Martin Crowe (New Zealand), Tony Dodemaide (Australia), Rahul Dravid (India), Andy Flower (Zimbabwe), Mike Gatting (England), Majid Khan (Pakistan), Anil Kumble (India), Shaun Pollock, Barry Richards (both South Africa), David Shepherd, Alec Stewart (both England), Michael Tissera (Sri Lanka), Courtney Walsh (West Indies) and Steve Waugh (Australia).
