KARACHI: Ahead of the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, Karachi Kings have named former West Indies allrounder Phil Simmons as their new head coach, succeeding Johan Botha.
Botha guided the Kings to a second-from-bottom finish in PSL 2023, securing three wins from 10 games. Simmons, a veteran of 26 Tests and 143 ODIs between 1987 and 1999, boasts an extensive coaching career, notably with multiple stints coaching West Indies. He currently leads the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket (MLC).
Simmons expressed his excitement about returning to Karachi, a city he cherishes from his playing days, and anticipates collaborating with Kings’ team director Haider Azhar. He praised the rich cricketing heritage of Pakistan and thanked the team’s ownership and management for the opportunity. With the ambition to revamp Karachi Kings and establish them as a dominant force, Simmons aims to focus on rebuilding the squad and forming a formidable unit.
Karachi Kings, winners of the 2020 title, aspire to rejuvenate their performance after missing the playoffs in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Simmons’ initial priority involves shaping the team during the upcoming player draft, with Kings currently having eight players on their roster, including captain Shan Masood, James Vince, Hasan Ali, and others.
The 2024 PSL season is slated to run from February 13 to March 18.
