Cameron White's spell with Somerset this summer is still to be approved by Cricket Australia.

The Sabres have signed the all-rounder, who played for them in 2006 and 2007, as an additional overseas player for the Friends Provident Twenty20 Cup.

But Australia have a tour to Europe in May, June and July when they play one-day internationals and Twenty20s against Ireland, England and Pakistan before two Tests against the latter side.

The big-hitter is currently only part of the Aussies' limited overs team, so Somerset CCC still hope he will be available for their first four games – against Sussex, Middlesex, Hampshire and Surrey – before returning for the final league games and the knock-out stages of the competition should the Sabres qualify.

White captained Somerset in 2006 and has recently been Australia's vice-captain in one-day cricket. He is currently playing for the Aussies on tour in New Zealand.

But according to rumours in Australia, White may not be given permission to play county cricket this summer. He has a heavy workload – including playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League later this month.

Somerset have also signed up West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard for the Twenty20 Cup. He will be able to fill in for White if the Victorian is not available, assuming Pollard is not part of the Windies' Test squad for their three-match series with South Africa in June.

Pollard is set to miss Somerset's Twenty20 opener at Sussex as he will still be in the Caribbean playing a one-day series against the Proteas.

Director of cricket Brian Rose said: "It is up to Cricket Australia to give Cameron final permission. One of the reasons we signed Kieron Pollard was to give us further options and if Cameron is not available at all we can always sign another player.

"Many other counties are probably in the same position as ourselves."

Indian left-arm spinner Murali Kartik is Somerset's principal overseas player for the 2010 season and will be available from mid-May through to September after he has played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

Under new rules, a county can play a maximum of two overseas players in any game. Up to four overseas men can be registered to a county for the coming season.

Somerset still hope to sign a fourth – a seam bowler – to cover for Kartik's absence in April and early May when they have four Championship games.

Australia swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus was under consideration, but his recovery from a knee tendonitis injury has not been as fast as had been hoped and he will not be released.

Somerset hope to finalise a deal with another Test bowler in the coming days.

Meanwhile, club chairman Andy Nash has started an online blog at www.blognasher.blogspot.com, in which he has so far expressed a wide range of views on the current issues in cricket and other matters.