Windies coach Simmons steps down after T20 World Cup debacle

 

The resignation of West Indies head coach Phil Simmons following his team's early withdrawal from the T20 World Cup.

 

The West Indies, who have won the T20 World Cup twice, was eliminated early after losses to Scotland and Ireland, placing them last in Group B. After the Windies' two-test series against Australia, which begins on November 30, Simmons will depart.

 

In a statement, Simmons stated, "I acknowledge that the great nations we represent as well as the squad are hurting."

 

"It's heartbreaking and upsetting, but we simply didn't show up. We were not competitive enough, therefore we must now watch a competition unfold without us. It's incomprehensible, and I sincerely apologize to our fans and supporters.”

 

Simmons said, "From a personal standpoint, this is not a snap decision; it is a decision I have been thinking about for some time and now is the moment to make public that I will resign as West Indies head coach after the conclusion of the Test series against Australia."

 

"I will now concentrate my resources in Australia on continuing to build on the tremendous improvement the Test squad has achieved," he said. "It is earlier than I had hoped for."

 

In 2019, Simmons took over as manager of the West Indies for a second time. 2016 saw the team win the World T20 championship.

 

When West Indies defeated England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to win their second ICC Men's T20 World Cup championship in 2016, Simmons served as the captain. He led the group in earlier this year's gruelling 1-0 Test series victory against England at home to earn the Richards-Botham Trophy.