Simmons arrives in city to take charge of Tigers

South Africa team arrives for two-match Test series

FE Team | Published: October 16, 2024 23:36:20

The newly appointed head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team, Phil Simmons, has arrived in the city on Wednesday for his first assignment with the Tigers-a two-Test home series against South Africa, report agencies.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that they have signed Simmons for six months-until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place in Pakistan in February.
Simmons, who had expressed interest in coaching Bangladesh back in 2017 after Hathurusingha's resignation, had even given a presentation to the BCB at the time.
After being overlooked for the role seven years ago, he has now been tasked with leading the team.
At the press conference, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Faruk Ahmed said that after considering several candidates, Simmons was deemed the most suitable for the job, emphasising his dedication and work ethic.
Since retiring as a player in 2002, the former all-rounder, who played 26 Tests and 143 ODIs for the West Indies, has embarked on a diverse coaching career.
He began coaching at an academy in Harare shortly after retirement, later becoming Zimbabwe's national team coach. In 2007, he was appointed as Ireland's coach, holding the position until 2015 before taking over as the head coach of the West Indies, where he led the team to their second T20 World Cup victory.
He also served as Afghanistan's batting coach and head coach in 2017 before returning to coach the West Indies until the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Simmons was named as Bangladesh's new coach after the BCB issued a suspension notice to the previous coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, for his alleged involvement in an assault of a national team player, as the BCB president Faruque Ahmed said.
After the South Africa series at home, Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE. Then, they will travel to the West Indies for a full series consisting of Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Meanwhile, the South Africa cricket team also arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.
The first Test of the two-match series will begin on October 21 in Dhaka, while the second Test will be played in Chattogram from October 29.
This series is part of the ongoing cycle of the ICC Test Championship. With two wins in six matches, South Africa are currently in fifth place in the points table, while Bangladesh are in seventh place with three wins in eight matches.
South Africa's regular captain, Temba Bavuma, will not be available for the first match in Mirpur due to an injury. In his absence, Aiden Markram will lead them in the series opener. Bavuma is expected to return for the second match in Chattogram, beginning on October 29.
Left-arm pacer Nandre Burger was named in the original squad, but he is missing the tour due to a lumbar stress fracture. To replace, the South Africa Cricket added Lungi Ngidi for the Bangladesh series.
South Africa Test squad for Bangladesh series: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.