New Delhi: West Indies head coach Phil Simmons has rejoined his team ahead of the opening Test against England after being in mandatory quarantine and clearing the COVID-19 tests following his decision to attend a family funeral.
“Phil Simmons is back on the job. The West Indies head coach returned to the field with his players on Thursday after his mandatory quarantine and COVID 19 tests,” Cricket West Indies said on Thursday.”He was part of the warm-up and pre-match preparations as West Indies continued their four-day warm-up match at the Old Trafford,” it further stated.
Simmons had found himself in a soup after board member Conde Riley had sought his “immediate removal” for moving out of the team’s bio-secure location in the UK to attend his father-in-law’s funeral ahead of the three-Test series against England beginning July 8.
However, the 57-year-old Simmons received the backing of Board president Ricky Skerritt, who insisted that he had taken permission before venturing out.
"I want to assure West Indies cricket fans that Phil Simmons still has the full backing of Cricket West Indies no matter what has been said. When all is said and done, Phil's job is not in any way threatened...he went through a very vigorous recruitment process nine months ago and was the best man we could have found for the job. He's still the best man," Skerritt said.
Simmons, who is in his second stint as West Indies coach, was in self-isolation at the team’s on-site hotel at Old Trafford after being granted a request for compassionate leave before the squad left for Britain.
Speaking on Wednesday Simmons had said that he was fully focused on preparing the team to beat England and retain the prestigious Wisden Trophy.
