T20 World Cup 2024

West Indies Head Coach to step down following disastrous 20-20 World Cup campaign

The two-time 20-20 World Cup champions in 2012 and 2016 West Indies had the campaign to forget in 20-20 World Cup 2022as they were handed a 42-run hammering by Scotland in their first round one game. They came back well and put up a spirited performance against Zimbabwe to register a 31-run win, but that was not enough.

They failed to come up trumps in their do-or-die clash against Ireland, where the Irish chased down a target of 147 in just 17.3 overs. With this, the dreams of the two-time 20-20 World Cup winners were shattered as they crashed out of the tournament.

Following the debacle, West Indies coach Phil Simmions has decided that it is time to call it quits. This is the second time the Men in Maroon have failed to reach the group stages since the inaugural 20-20 World Cup in 2007.

“His last assignment will be the upcoming two-Test series against Australia from 30 November to 12 December,” Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a statement on Monday night.

The 59-year-old and current coach of the West Indies side labelled the exit from the 20-20 World Cup 2022 as ‘shocking’. “I acknowledge that it’s not just the team that is hurting but the proud nations we represent as well. It’s disappointing and heart-wrenching but we just didn’t turn up,” Simmons said in the statement.

We deeply apologise to our fans and followers – Phil Simmons

“We weren’t good enough and we now have to watch a tournament play-out without our involvement. It’s unfathomable and for that, I deeply apologise to our fans and followers,” said Simmons, who had scored 1002 Test runs and 3675 ODI runs for the West Indies.

“From a personal perspective this is not a knee-jerk reaction, but a move I have been considering for some time and now is the time to make public that I will step down as West Indies Head Coach at the end of the Test series against Australia.”

“It is earlier than hoped for, but I will now focus my energies in Australia on continuing to build on the excellent progress the Test team has made.”

Simmons also added that there would be conducting a performance review of the West Indies on this disastrous 20-20 World Cup campaign. “Of course, as the President has pointed out, we will also carry out the necessary review into our World Cup campaign,” he said.