Former Windies chief wants suspended Simmons on Sri Lanka tour

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Former West Indies Cricket Board president, Ken Gordon, believes suspending head coach Phil Simmons was the right thing to do but says he should still be allowed to join the squad in Sri Lanka in some capacity.

The 85-year-old Gordon, who led the troubled entity between 2005 and 2007, said Simmons' appointment as head coach had been a positive development, and since he had now apologised for his actions, the WICB needed to find a way of incorporating him. "The re-introduction of Simmons as coach has been an invigorating development.

A former Test player, Phil is well respected and liked on all sides," the Trinidad Guardian newspaper quoted Gordon as saying.

"He is a good leader, knows the game and has come back to us with an impressive track record earned from his virtual transformation of the Ireland cricket team".