Phil Simmons has joined Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a ‘specialist coach’ for the 2024 T20 World Cup, marking a significant addition to their coaching staff. Simmons, renowned for leading West Indies to their 2016 T20 World Cup title, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His second tenure as West Indies coach ended following their early exit from the group stage at the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Simmons has a rich background in franchise cricket, having coached teams like Trinbago Knight Riders, LA Knight Riders, and Karachi Kings. In his new role, he will support PNG head coach Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper. Cricket PNG emphasized Simmons’ deep knowledge of local conditions as a crucial factor in his recruitment.
“My role here is as a consultant coach, focusing on how I can share my experience from playing in World Cups and specifically in the Caribbean. It’s essential to prepare for the specific venues in the Caribbean,” Simmons said. He added, “As a player internationally for fourteen years and then as an international coach for eighteen years, it’s been a long time in the game. It’s always brilliant to come home, especially to Trinidad.”
PNG, led by batter Assad Vala, arrived in St. Kitts after a four-day journey from Port Moresby. They will engage in training and various unofficial warm-up matches before their official fixtures. Next week, PNG will face Oman and Namibia in official warm-up matches in Trinidad and Tobago.
Drawn in Group C of the 2024 T20 World Cup, PNG will start their campaign against co-hosts West Indies in Guyana on June 2, followed by a match against Uganda four days later at the same venue. They will then return to Trinidad to face Afghanistan on June 14, with their final group match against New Zealand on June 17.
Simmons praised PNG’s energy and the positive team atmosphere. “Their energy is unbelievable: their warm-up alone yesterday got me tired. The guys look like they have settled in really well. I’ve known the head coach for a long time and he’s always energetic, but the players seem to be pushing him, which I like.”
PNG aim to improve on their winless campaign from their first T20 World Cup in 2021, with hopes that Simmons’ expertise will significantly bolster their performance.
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