WEST Indies coach Phil Simmons is suing Zimbabwe cricket for wrongful dismissal 10 years after being fired by the African team.Simmons and his lawyers are in pursuit of US$320 000 in damages, with a tribunal ruling expected in the matter soon.
The former West Indies batsman, initially the head of the national academy, was appointed head coach of the Zimbabwe team in 2004.
Simmons, however, fell out with the board in 2005 and was replaced by late former Zimbabwe player Kevin Curran.
Simmons is owed US$50 000 in unpaid salaries, but is also demanding US$195 000 as damages for the remainder of his contract, which was initially scheduled to expire in August of 2007.
The coach’s attorney has calculated a rate of “$1500 per month plus interest from August 2007 to date of full and final payment,” according to court papers.
Simmons also wants an extra $75 000 as six months’ notice stipulated in his contract with ZC.
In the court papers, Zimbabwe Cricket admits owing Simmons $50 000 in outstanding salaries and has twice, in 2007 and 2009, offered an out-of-court settlement and full payment of $60 000 which was turned down.
Under his contract, Simmons was to earn $10 000 in his first year, $12 500 in the second year and $15 000 in the third. Sportsmax.com)