West Indies coach to quit by Dec.

Phil Simmons

The fallout from the West Indies’ disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign has commenced with news that head coach Phil Simmons will step down from his role at the end of the year.

Simmons has been in charge of the West Indies over two separate stints since 2015 and was at the helm when he led the Caribbean side to their second T20 World Cup title at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2016.

The ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia was a disappointing one for the West Indies, with Simmons leading the side to just one win from three matches as they were bundled out of the tournament in the First Round.

It means Simmons will finish up at the end of the year, with the 59-year-old to step down following the West Indies’ two-match Test series in Australia at the start of December.

Simmons said the decision was not just due to the West Indies’ T20 World Cup efforts and he had been considering the move for some time.

“I acknowledge that it’s not just the team that is hurting but the proud nations we represent as well,” Simmons said. “It’s disappointing and heart wrenching but we just didn’t turn up. 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.”