Phil Simmons will no longer be seen coaching in the PSL or any other franchise league, as he has committed to a long-term role with Bangladesh cricket.
Despite Bangladesh’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, Simmons received a pleasant surprise — an extended contract. The former West Indies all-rounder will remain the head coach of the Bangladesh national team until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the extension on Tuesday, stating that Simmons will continue in his role until the next World Cup, scheduled for October-November 2027, to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Simmons expressed hope to take Bangladesh cricket to “new heights” in this new tenure.
Simmons took charge of Bangladesh last October, ahead of the South Africa series. However, his journey with the team didn’t start well, with Bangladesh losing both home Tests. His time since then has also been far from impressive.
In 15 matches across all formats under Simmons’ guidance, Bangladesh has won only five. Of these, three wins came in a T20I series sweep against West Indies. In Tests, the team won just one out of four matches, and in ODIs, they managed only one win in eight games.
Last month, Bangladesh had high hopes of lifting the ICC Champions Trophy but ended up crashing out early. They lost miserably to India and New Zealand, while the match against Pakistan was washed out due to rain.
That tournament marked the end of Simmons’ initial contract with the BCB. Despite the lackluster results, the 61-year-old coach has now been entrusted with a long-term role by the board.
Expressing his commitment to achieving something special with the team, Simmons sounded optimistic.
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work long-term with Bangladesh cricket. There’s no denying the talent within this team. I truly believe we can achieve something great together. I’m eagerly looking forward to the journey ahead.”
He also shared his excitement about working with some exceptional players in the squad.
“Working with some remarkable cricketers, I see immense potential in this team. Their skill and dedication to the game inspire me every day. I’m confident we can achieve something special and take Bangladesh cricket to new heights.”
Simmons expressed his joy at continuing the journey with Bangladesh.
“My time with the Bangladesh team over the past few months has been incredibly rewarding. The energy, dedication, and skill within this group are simply outstanding. I’m thrilled to help these players reach their full potential.”
In recent years, Simmons had been actively coaching in various franchise leagues, most recently serving as the head coach of Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, with this long-term deal, he will no longer coach in any leagues. Shahriar Nafees, Head of BCB’s Cricket Operations, confirmed this to BDNews24.
“Simmons has signed a full-time contract with BCB. He may have worked in different leagues before, but now he will remain solely with the Bangladesh team until the 2027 World Cup.”
The BCB also made another significant move by appointing Mohammad Salahuddin as the senior assistant coach a month after Simmons took charge. Like Simmons, Salahuddin was initially contracted until the Champions Trophy.
However, the board now wants to retain Salahuddin until the 2027 World Cup. Shahriar Nafees confirmed that an agreement has already been reached.
“We have verbally finalized the same tenure with Salahuddin Bhai. The formalities will be completed after Eid. We planned to officially announce this in the board meeting, but the meeting was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.”
With Simmons and Salahuddin now set for long-term roles, the BCB hopes this stable coaching setup will help Bangladesh cricket achieve significant milestones in the coming years.
