Simmons arrives at Mirpur immediately after landing

The South African cricket team arrived in Bangladesh early Wednesday morning to play a two-match Test series. Joining the Bangladesh team for the series preparations, new coach Phil Simmons also arrived in Dhaka. The West Indian coach, who landed in Dhaka at 8:40 AM, headed straight to Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium after a short rest.

A significant change in Bangladesh cricket's coaching staff took only a few hours to materialise. Just on Tuesday, Chandika Hathurusingha was the head coach in Bangladesh's training session. However, today, Simmons has already assumed the role of head coach, meeting the cricketers and starting his duties. Hathurusingha, who was still part of the team in Dhaka just yesterday, has now become a figure of the past.

Immediately after being elected, BCB president Faruque Ahmed indicated that Hathurusingha would be dismissed. The announcement came on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan coach has been suspended for 48 hours and given a show-cause notice. After this period, Hathurusingha will be formally dismissed by the BCB. Meanwhile, a new coach has already been appointed, and the day after his name was announced, he appeared at the team's training session.

With the South Africa series imminent, the BCB decided to sack Hathurusingha, as the team needed a coach for the series. For now, Simmons has been appointed as the interim coach. However, under the initial agreement, the former West Indian all-rounder has been contracted by the BCB until the Champions Trophy, scheduled for February next year.

South Africa has come to play a Test series in Bangladesh after nine years. The last time the Proteas played Tests in Bangladesh was in 2015. Both matches were drawn due to rain. The two matches of this series are part of the Test Championship. The first Test will begin on 21 October at Mirpur Stadium, and the second match will be held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, starting on 29 October.

This series will mark the beginning of Simmons' mission as Bangladesh's head coach. He played international cricket for the West Indies for 11 years. Between 1988 and 1999, the former batting all-rounder played 26 Tests and 143 ODIs for the Caribbean side. In Tests, he scored 1,002 runs, including one century and four half-centuries, while taking 4 wickets in 16 innings of bowling. In ODIs, Simmons scored 3,675 runs, including five centuries and 18 half-centuries, and claimed 83 wickets.

Simmons began his coaching career in 2004. He served as Zimbabwe's coach for a year. The former West Indian cricketer has had two stints as the West Indies coach and has also held the head coach positions of Ireland and Afghanistan. Under his guidance, West Indies won the 2016 T20 World Cup. Additionally, he has coaching experience in various franchise leagues around the world.