A great chance to make history, says Phil Simmons ahead of South Africa series

Phil Simmons, the newly appointed head coach of Bangladesh's men's cricket team, faced the media for the first time since taking over the role, expressing his excitement for the opportunity and outlining his immediate goals for the team.

His appointment comes at a dramatic time for Bangladesh cricket, as the team gears up for the crucial two-match Test series against South Africa, starting 21 October.

During the press conference, Simmons shared insights into his decision to join the Bangladesh setup, stating that it wasn't a difficult choice. "The interest comes from seeing the young players and the quality they have," Simmons remarked. "Watching some of the Pakistan Test matches and seeing how they handled themselves, I realised there was a lot to build on. The T20s against India didn't go well, but that's against the best T20 team in the world. So, it all added up to an assignment I enjoyed."

The 61-year-old coach, who previously worked with teams like West Indies, Ireland, and Afghanistan, signed a contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) until the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Reflecting on his wealth of experience, Simmons pointed out how his past roles will assist him in this assignment. "Afghanistan helped me with the language barrier at times. Ireland helped me with developing young players. It all comes together at the end of the day, and I'll use those experiences here," he explained.

Simmons, who has been on the job for only a few days, stressed that his immediate priority is to focus on cricket and leave external distractions aside, especially given the recent changes in Bangladesh cricket, including the suspension of previous head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. "The good thing is we have a very important Test match to prepare for. We have tried to leave out the confusion around the cricket and concentrate on getting the squad ready for Monday."

When asked about his philosophy, Simmons highlighted the importance of hard work and preparation, noting that the players have impressed him in the short time he has been with the team. "My philosophy is to work hard in preparation and results will come in the match. What I have seen in the last couple of days is that these guys work really hard on their game, skills, and fitness. I am pretty happy with the work I've seen so far."

Looking ahead to the South Africa series, Simmons expressed optimism about Bangladesh's chances of securing a historic victory. "It's definitely a good opportunity. Bangladesh are usually very strong at home, and South Africa has the record of not winning in the sub-continent in the last 10 years. But they are a resilient team, and they'll work hard to change that."

In his discussions with the team captain, Simmons has focused on preparations for the upcoming Test series. "It has been about his thoughts on the players and the direction he wants to take the team. Right now, it's about Test cricket and what we are going to do in these two matches."

Simmons is aware of the challenges ahead, but he remains determined to guide the team through this transition period. "All international coaching jobs are hot seats, but for me, it's about getting the players to play, enjoy the game, and win matches. The seat isn't hot, not yet at least. The last two days have been really good, and we are focused on the task at hand."

His immediate goal, he emphasised, is simple: "The goal is about preparing properly and trying to win games. That's how I work."

Simmons' first challenge will be leading the Tigers in the two-Test series against South Africa, with hopes of guiding Bangladesh to their maiden series win against the Proteas on home soil.