LAHORE, Pakistan (CMC) – Ex-West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has been announced to lead Karachi Kings for the upcoming Pakistan Super League season.

The Trinidadian, who stepped down from the West Indies post last December following the Test tour of Australia, takes over a franchise which struggled last season in finishing one from bottom of the six-team league.

Simmons will add the new Kings role to his two other current franchise positions as head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League and LA Knight Riders in the newly birthed Major League Cricket.

“Returning to Karachi, a city I hold dear from my playing days, feels like a homecoming,” Simmons said.

“I am thrilled to join forces with Haider Azhar and the rest of the team’s think tank, drawing from the rich cricketing heritage of this country.

“I am thankful to team owner Salman Iqbal, CEO Tariq Wasi, and Karachi Kings management for this opportunity. We are eager to move ahead with our rebuilding and restart process of Karachi Kings and [to] establish this franchise as a match-winning unit.”

The 60-year-old Simmons began his white-ball career in Pakistan over three decades ago when the country hosted the 1987 World Cup, the all-rounder playing a single game in Karachi.

He will hope to revive the fortunes of a franchise which won the title in 2020 but has struggled in recent seasons.

The first assignment for Simmons will be Wednesday’s draft for the February 13 to March 18 tournament, where he will look to complete the Kings playing roster.