Phil Simmons, who coached West Indies to the 2016 T20 World Cup title, joined Papua New Guinea as a “specialist coach” ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament in June.
Simmons’ second spell as West Indies coach ended shortly after their team’s elimination from the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and he has worked extensively with the cricket franchise since, coaching the Trinbago Knight Riders, LA Knight Riders, and the Karachiites. Kings. Cricket PNG said in a press release that they were bringing him back because of his extensive experience of local conditions to support head coach Tatenda Taibu, a former Zimbabwean wicketkeeper.
“My role here is as a consultant and [will be about] how I transfer my experience, not only playing in the World Cup but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should look to use make sure we get it right. To do things in the Caribbean and especially where we play. “As an international player, 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, to always bright to return to any part of the West Indies. You know how beautiful it is here. I can’t wait to go back home to Trinidad.”
PNG’s Journey to the World Cup
PNG arrived in St Kitts last weekend after a four-day journey from Port Moresby. They will train and play various unofficial warm-up games in the coming days before facing Oman and Namibia in official warm-up games in Trinidad and Tobago next week.
Group C includes them in the World Cup itself. Will face the West Indies in their opening match in Guyana on June 2. And Uganda four days later at the same venue. They will return to Trinidad to face Afghanistan on June 14 and New Zealand on June 17. Simmons said: “Their heat yesterday made me tired – their side was terrible. The guys seem to be well prepared … I’ve known the coach for a long time and he’s been able always. There’s always a lot of energy, but the players seem to push it where it doesn’t exist, and I like that vibe in that team.”
Batsman Assad Vala will lead PNG, who will play in the second T20 World Cup, after an unbeaten campaign in 2021.
