Phil Simmons to step down as Afghanistan coach after World Cup 2019

Former West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons who is currently the coach of the Afghanistan cricket side is set to step down after the ICC World Cup. The 56-year-old former batting all-rounder said he has informed the Afghanistan Cricket Board about his decision as he has decided to explore something different after this stint. Simmons’ contract is getting expired on July 15, a day after the final of the World Cup is held at Lord’s.

Simmons took over as the coach of the promising side in December 2017 and said he had helped the board in achieving its goal of qualifying for the World Cup this year. Afghanistan made their World Cup debut in the 2015 edition held in Australia and New Zealand and ended up winning one close game against Scotland. They won the qualifying tournament beating teams like the West Indies and Zimbabwe to get the nod for participating in this WC.

“I have thought about it and I have actually given the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) my notice that I will not be renewing my contract. I will move on to something different once my contract expires on July 15,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Simmons, as saying. “I signed up originally for 18 months and I think I have done a lot in this period. It is time for me to move on to something else now. To want to get to the World Cup – that was ACB’s goal at the time they appointed me.”

The former West Indian cricketer, who played in 26 Tests and 143 ODIs for his country in the late 1980s and 1990s, said his goal is always to leave things better than when he joined. He said he has tried to help Afghanistan in those areas during his stint.

Simmons said he wasn’t aware of the decision to sack Asghar Afghan

On the recent controversy in Afghanistan cricket over replacing Asghar Afghan with three different captains for as many formats, Simmons said he was not aware of it and neither he was given any reasons. He said it was a move made by the ACB and the selectors and he just has to go on with that decision.

Afghanistan will meet defending champions Australia in their first match of the WC in Bristol on June 1.

[interaction id=”5cdfe868df3c8d130786d3bd”]