Phil Simmons sorry over his "moment of madness"
West Indies coach Phil Simmons has apologised to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the panel of selectors over his comments regarding interference in team selection by describing his action as "a schoolboy error in a moment of madness." Simmons is set to answer a disciplinary panel of WICB officials regarding the matter.
"In no way did I intend to even mention the issues of selection. It was not in any way intentional and so therefore I needed to express my deepest regret to you and my fellow selectors," Simmons said as quoted by NDTV Cricket. "I can only describe it as a schoolboy error in a moment of madness. This was not within my character. I need to apologise as I am genuinely sorry."
The latest controversy to engulf West Indies cricket broke out last week when Simmons had expressed his displeasure over the ODI team selected to tour Sri Lanka. He was disappointed over the omission of star players, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, and said that he wasn’t given the opportunity to have the best team to tour the Island nation.
“I think it's disappointing from the fact that I haven't got the best 50-over ODI squad that we can select in the Caribbean,” he had said.
His comments irked the selectors and the board, and he was suspended with immediate effect from Monday, pending investigation, and supposedly will not travel along with the team to Sri Lanka. Simmons will have to pay for his comments, despite his apology, as he is set to meet a WICB panel to explain his comments.
WICB chief Michael Muirhead said that the board will be reaching a decision after 7 days and that the investigation would be within the boundaries of WICB internal human resources policy. "During the process, he will continue to enjoy the benefits of his full remuneration, the matter will be dealt with in an expeditious manner and it is our intention to have a decision within the next seven working days,” he said.
Simmons’ apology comes at a time when the WICB has been facing a long list of issues beginning with the controversy surrounding the omission of their star cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the national squad, which drew widespread flak from former cricketers and experts. Add to that the appointment of Jason Holder as Test captain, which also raised a few eyebrows, and now the suspension of the coach.
Clearly, West Indies cricket fans will be hoping that the board gets their act together to be more organized and the management needs to play a more proactive role in uniting the board and the players in the Carribean.