KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- A former director on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Jackie Hendriks, says he disagrees with the decision to suspend Phil Simmons as head coach for publicly alleging interference in team selection.
Hendriks describes Simmons’ comments as ‘unfortunate’ but says he should have been reprimanded with a warning instead of being removed from his position.
Simmons told a news conference that he believes there was outside “interference” in the selection of the one-day team for Sri Lanka following the non-selection of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard.
“I can understand the frustration that Simmons may have felt with him going and talking to (Dwayne) Bravo and (Kieron) Pollard, and wanting them to play, and his frustration of not getting them to be a part of the one-day squad,” said Hendriks.
“However, it’s rather unfortunate the comments he made. They were totally out of place, and temperate, and, should have been kept to himself. However, having said that, I don’t believe the action of the board to suspend him was the right one.”
Simmons, who was this summer offered the head coach position, said he along with chairman of selectors, Clive Lloyd and Captain Jason Holder backed the inclusion of Bravo and Pollard while other selectors disagreed.
Former West Indies players Courtney Walsh, Courtney Browne, and Eldine Baptiste, are the other voting members on the selection panel.
“I think it was a bit harsh, given that it is the head coach we are dealing with, and, could have been handled in a much more diplomatic manner. He (Simmons) should have been called in, and be asked to explain the reason behind his outbursts,” said Hendriks.
“Thereafter, a stern warning should have been issued that such utterances are unacceptable, and a repeat of would lead to his ultimate dismissal.”
Meantime, the former Windies wicketkeeper has criticized the exclusion of Bravo and Pollard from the ODI squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.
The two Trinidad and Tobago cricketers were included on the T20 squad.
“I find it peculiar that they are selected for the Twenty20 team, and not the one-day team,” said Hendriks, who represented the West Indies 1960s.
“They are two of the players we have in limited overs cricket, and as such I am still struggling to see why they were not in the World Cup squad to begin with, and now not in the one-day squad for Sri Lanka”.
The West Indies play two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20s while on tour of Sri Lanka.
