Phil Simmons has received the good news of a contract extension. The former Caribbean all-rounder will remain the head coach of the Bangladesh national team until the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.
Simmons took charge of Bangladesh last October before the South Africa series. His tenure began with two Test defeats at home. The subsequent period was not very successful either. Under Simmons’ coaching, Bangladesh has played 15 matches across all three formats, winning only five. Notably, they won all three matches of the T20I series during their tour of the West Indies. Apart from that, they secured just one victory in four Test matches and one win in eight ODIs.
Last month, Bangladesh entered the ICC Champions Trophy with high hopes of winning a title but faced a disappointing campaign. After lackluster performances against India and New Zealand, their match against Pakistan was abandoned due to rain. That tournament marked the end of Simmons’ initial contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Despite an overall underwhelming experience, the board has opted for the 61-year-old coach on a long-term basis. Taking on the full-term role, Simmons expressed his commitment to achieving significant success with promising cricketers.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work long-term with Bangladesh cricket. The talent within this team cannot be ignored. I believe we have the potential to achieve something great together. I am eagerly looking forward to the future,” said Simmons.
BCB announced in a statement on Tuesday that Simmons will remain in charge until the next ODI World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in October–November 2027, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Simmons has expressed his ambition to take Bangladesh cricket to new heights during his extended tenure.
His new contract with BCB is a full-time commitment. While he has previously been involved in various leagues, Simmons will now focus solely on Bangladesh cricket until the 2027 World Cup.
The BCB appointed Mohammad Salahuddin as the senior assistant coach just a month after hiring Simmons as head coach. Like Simmons, Salahuddin was initially contracted until the Champions Trophy. However, the board now intends to retain him until the 2027 World Cup as well.
