Former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons joins Papua New Guinea coaching staff for ICC T20 World Cup 2024

61-year-old Phil Simmons will be part of Papua New Guinea’s coaching setup for ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Former West Indies all-rounder and coach Phil Simmons has been roped by Papua New Guinea (PNG) into their coaching setup for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. PNG will be banking on Simmons’ knowledge of the pitches in the West Indies and the USA, where the tournament will be played next month.

Phil Simmons, who played 169 internationals, coached Daren Sammy-led side to the T20 World Cup trophy in 2016 in India. West Indies defeated hosts India in the semi-final and then England in the final. However, West Indies suffered a first-round exit in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, which Simmons said was “unfathomable.” Consequently, he resigned from his post.

Simmons then went into the T20 franchise circuit and took up head coach positions at Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL, LA Knight Riders in the MLC, and Karachi Kings in the PSL.

In international cricket, Simmons has also coached Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan.

My role here is as a consultant coach: Phil Simmons

Simmons now will be assisting PNG head coach Tatenda Taibu, a former Zimbabwe captain, with his inputs on the pitches in the Caribbean Islands and also on the shortest format. For PNG, this is only their second appearance in the T20 World Cup, having made their maiden appearance in the competition in 2021 in the UAE.

As quoted by the ICC, Phil Simmons said, “My role here is as a consultant coach and how I put across my experience, not just playing in World Cups but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should be looking at to make sure we do it right in the Caribbean and especially the venues that we play at.”

He added, “As a player internationally, for fourteen years and then as an international coach for eighteen years it’s been a long time in the game. It’s always brilliant to come home, always brilliant to come back to any part of the West Indies you know how beautiful it is here.”

Led by Assadollah Vala, Papua New Guinea will kick off their campaign against hosts West Indies on June 2 in Guyana. PNG are grouped with West Indies, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Uganda.

Papua New Guinea squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Assadollah Vala (C), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, CJ Amini, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Kabua Vagi Morea, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Norman Vanua, Tony Ura

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