Former West Indies all-rounder and head coach Phil Simmons has been appointed as ‘specialist coach’ by Papua New Guinea (PNG) ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to commence on June 1.
Simmons will support PNG head coach Tatenda Taibu with his extensive local knowledge, aiding players in adjusting and adapting to the Caribbean conditions.
The former all-rounder served as the West Indian head coach on two separate occasions, helping them with their second T20 World Cup in 2016 during his first tenure.
He has also worked with the national teams of Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan, in addition to his extensive coaching experience in franchise cricket.
“My role here is as a consultant coach and [will be about] how I put across my experience, not just playing in World Cups but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should be looking at to make sure we do it right in the Caribbean and especially the venues that we play at,” said Phil Simmons.
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“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, always brilliant to come back to any part of the West Indies. You know how beautiful it is here. I’m looking forward to getting home, which is Trinidad.”
The PNG squad reached the Caribbean island of St Kitts last week, and are scheduled to face Oman and Namibia in warm-up fixtures in Trinidad and Tobago next week.
They are placed in Group C alongside co-hosts West Indies, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Uganda. They will play their opening game in the T20 World Cup against West Indies on June 2.
Papua New Guinea squad for T20 World Cup
Assadollah Vala (c), CJ Amini (vc), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, Tony Ura
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