PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies’ slump in the world Twenty20 rankings is of little concern to head coach Phil Simmons, but believes it can work to his side’s advantage if the T20 World Cup comes off in Australia this October.
Since winning the T20 World Cup under Simmons four years ago in India, the Caribbean side have slid down the rankings and now lie ninth only above minnows Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland.
“I think the only disadvantage it (lockdown) places on West Indies is how much work the guys are able to do before we go there (World Cup) – if it’s happening,” the Trinidadian explained.
The South Africa is of special significance to West Indies’ T20 World Cup preparation, with five T20 Internationals scheduled at the back end of the series in August.
“It (CPL) is an important part of selection for the West Indies squad and if a safe environment for it can be found and it can be played, it would be massive help for the players who would then be selected in the squad to go to the World Cup if it’s on,” Simmons noted.
