Grenada, West Indies (BBN)-Ottis Gibson has officially ended his tenure as West Indies coach with immediate effect.
The WICB released a statement on Tuesday night that confirmed the board and Gibson had “mutually agreed to terminate their association”, ending the speculation that began after Gibson was absent from team training in Grenada on Monday ahead of the first ODI against Bangladesh.
Richie Richardson, the team manager, will take charge of the side on an interim basis for the series against Bangladesh, reports ESPNcricinfo.
The rest of the coaching staff, including assistant coaches Stuart Williams and Andre Coley, and bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose, will remain in their positions.
“On behalf of the board and West Indies cricket as a whole we express our gratitude to Ottis for his work, particularly in coaching the team to winning the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012, and offer our best wishes to him in all his future endeavours,” Michael Muirhead, the WICB chief executive officer, said.
The board’s statement also noted Gibson’s “unwavering commitment and professionalism” during his tenure, which began in early 2010 when he left his job as England’s bowling coach to take charge of West Indies.
During his time as head coach, West Indies won nine of 36 Tests and won four Test series – two against Bangladesh and one against Zimabwe.
However, they lost back-to-back series to New Zealand both away and at home over the past nine months.
They currently sit eighth on the ICC Test rankings, ahead of only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh; eighth on the ODI rankings; and seventh on the T20 rankings.
Their most notable achievement during Gibson’s tenure was winning the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka.
BBN/JF-21Aug14-2:40pm (BST)
