Papua New Guinea (PNG) has added former West Indies all-rounder and coach Phil Simmons to their coaching staff for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. PNG will be depending on Simmons’ familiarity with pitches in the USA and the West Indies, where the competition will take place the following month.
Playing 169 international matches, Phil Simmons guided the team captained by Daren Sammy to the T20 World Cup victory in India in 2016. In the semi-final, West Indies overcame the hosts, India, and in the final, they defeated England. But Simmons called the West Indies’ first-round ouster from the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia “unfathomable.” As a result, he left his position.
After that, Simmons entered the T20 franchise scene and became the head coach of the Karachi Kings in the PSL, the LA Knight Riders in the MLC, and the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL.
Simmons has also coached Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland in cricket.
Simmons will now be providing advice on surfaces in the Caribbean Islands and the shortest format to PNG head coach Tatenda Taibu, a former captain of Zimbabwe. PNG is participating in its second T20 World Cup; they first participated in the championship in the United Arab Emirates in 2021.
Speaking as a consultant coach, Phil Simmons explained to the ICC that his role involved not only playing in World Cups but also playing in the Caribbean and the things that needed to be considered to ensure that the region—and particularly the venues where we play—was done correctly.
“It’s been a long time in the game,” he continued, having played internationally for fourteen years before serving as an international coach for eighteen. Coming home, or returning to any section of
the West Indies where you are aware of its beauty, is always a fantastic idea.
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 Ur
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