No single reason for Simmons' removal, insists WICB

Kingston (Jamaica) [West Indies], Sept.15 (ANI):A day after Phil Simmons was axed from the post of West Indies head coach, the country's cricket board has revealed that there was not a specific reason, but number of various issues behind his sacking. Yesterday, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had confirmed that Simmons has been dismissed from his position with immediate effect due to "differences in culture and strategic approach, thus leaving Joel Garner in charge of the side for the upcoming T20 tour to the UAE for a series against Pakistan. WICB chief Michael Muirhead said although there was an accumulation of disagreements over time that led to Simmons' dismissal, the selection matters were the most commonly reported arguments that were raised in the media. "I think he himself had ideas for a different strategic approach, notwithstanding one already having been approved and adopted by the board. I don't think he was aligned with that. The other thing was the work culture was a little different. It was how we do business, how we execute things. It was an organisational culture. It was not the difference in ethnic culture as has been pointed out elsewhere," Muirhead was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. Under Simmons' guidance, West Indies lifted their second World T20 title in India earlier this year. However, strains between Simmons and the WICB continued to simmer. Last year, Simmons was suspended briefly after he complained of "interference" in the selection process, but he was reinstated after a reprimand. Simmons is the third influential member of the team management, after Darren Sammy and Curtly Ambrose, who have been sacked in less than six months since West Indies' historic World T20 victory. (ANI)