Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has dismissed claims that his squad is in disarray after batting coach Mohammad Ashraful was removed from his role. Ahead of the opening Test against West Indies, Simmons appears keen to steer the conversation away from internal unrest and back toward the cricket itself.

The timing makes his response significant. A change in the coaching staff so close to a Test series can easily fuel speculation about morale and unity, and a team walking into a challenging assignment needs to project stability. Simmons's attempt to downplay the turmoil suggests he wants his players focused on the field rather than on the noise surrounding the dressing room. Whether that message lands will only become clear once the series begins.

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