ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Former all-rounder Phil Simmons has been confirmed as the new West Indies coach and will oversee the Caribbean side’s three-Test series against England starting here next month.
In a release yesterday, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) quelled rampant speculation over Simmons’ future by announcing that the 51-year-old Trinidadian would take up the post made vacant by the axing of Barbadian Ottis Gibson last August, just ahead of the Bangladesh series.
Simmons, who spent the last eight years in charge of Ireland, was selected from among seven candidates and has been handed a three-year contract.
CMC Sports had reported last month that Simmons was poised to take up the new role once his commitments with Ireland at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup had expired.
Michael Muirhead, the WICB’s chief executive, said Simmons was the right person to take the team forward. (BN)
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