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Phil Simmons quits over World Cup debacle

Published:Monday | October 24, 2022 | 4:36 PM
West Indies coach Phil Simmons gives his players catching practice during warm up on the second day of the first Test cricket match between England and the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on July 9, 2020.
CWI photo
West Indies coach Phil Simmons gives his players catching practice during warm up on the second day of the first Test cricket match between England and the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on July 9, 2020.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons is the first casualty of the team's failed ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign last week.

The West Indies, asked to qualify for the Super 12s in the competition, had a horrendous tournament where they lost to perennial minnows, Ireland and Scotland, managing just one win against Zimbabwe.

Simmons in making the announcement through Cricket West Indies, said he was aware how hurt the nations in the region were regarding the outcome.

According to Simmons, having to watch the tournament, currently still under way in Australia, was 'unfathomable'.

"I deeply apologise to our fans and followers," he said.

Simmons said he would walk away after the West Indies completed its two-Test series in Australia, adding that he believed there had been much progress in the longer format of the game for the West Indies.

CWI president, Ricky Skerritt, who promised a serious investigation into why the West Indies did so poorly, thanked Simmons for his service, saying he was a 'proud West Indian'.

Simmons was at the helm in 2016 when West Indies won their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title defeating England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Earlier this year he guided the team’s fortunes in their hard-fought 1-0 Test series win over England on home soil to capture the Richards-Botham Trophy and in June a Test series victory against Bangladesh in their last outing.

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