'Free, fair and fearless, that's what Simmons is all about'

Phil Simmons is among the most experienced coaches in international cricket, being one among only four to have coached an international team in 400 matches. Having started with the Bangladesh team in an interim capacity after the ouster of Chandika Hathurusingha, Simmons' contract was recently extended by the Bangladesh Cricket Board until the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November 2007.

"I haven't seen anyone watching the game sitting in a chair outside the dressing room," a national cricketer described Simmons after being around him in the recent past. This is a stark contrast to how Hathurusingha operated, with the players having to endure strict, authoritarian coach.

The senior team's assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin, who has worked alongside Simmons and who is also likely to get a contract extension, praised the West Indian's balanced approach, calling him a fair and inspiring coach who is unafraid to speak the truth while fostering a fearless cricketing environment in the team.

"Everyone has his own style when it comes to expressing emotions. Some can be very loud (in the dressing room) while there are others who can have an effect despite sitting quietly in one corner of the dressing room," Salahuddin said in a chat with Cricbuzz. "So the style varies and they have been doing coaching for so many years are well aware of what needs to be said to certain players and at what moment.

"He [Simmons] is not aggressive but he doesn't hesitate calling spade a spade. The players can talk freely in the dressing room while they can play cricket with freedom. He treats everyone fairly in the dressing room and always inspires everyone to play fearless cricket," said Salahuddin.

Simmons is generally considered as a coach his backs the players. When asked about that, Salahuddin said: "I think it is true because when you are fair to everyone, in that case you will be backing all the players and that is the reason probably he is known as a player's coach.

"I don't think he backs the players but what he does is that he gives everyone what they deserve - whether it is players or officials. The head coach does not only work with the players as he works with the board and the selection panels as well and due to that he needs to be fair and he makes sure he gets that authority so that he can do that (work fairly)."

Bangladesh haven't had a great run in international cricket recently but Salahuddin feels Simmons will be better prepared ahead of his full-time stint, having identified the strengths and weaknesses of the players.

"I think it is true (that his honeymoon period is over) and we are already working on it (who fits where in the team) and what our coaches need to do with certain players, and he is thinking about it deeply. What I feel after seeing him closely is that he wants a good chain between Under-19, High Performance Unit and Bangladesh Tigers programmes and so the local coaches can prepare the guys as per the requirement of the national team.

"That is the reason he had informed the coaches how they need to work and what areas they need to improve so that when a player comes into the national team we don't find it hard to make him adapt with the pressure of international cricket. That is the reason we are trying to better the communication skills with the local coaches and he already had spoken with some of the coaches.

"He wants to give freedom to everyone (coaches) but at the same time a chain need to be maintained considering the fact that if it is maintained it will be beneficial for the country's cricket. He doesn't have a snobbish attitude towards the local coaches. If any local coaches have any kind of deficiency and feels free to share it with them. He is quite open and welcoming to help them in that regard," noted Salahuddin.