'T20 still our strongest format, but it's not just about hitting sixes' – Simmons

Simmons had coached West Indies to their second T20 World Cup title in the previous edition held in India in 2016, and was removed from the position soon after. Now, as he returns in a similar capacity, he is drawing up a road-map for the next edition, which is less than a year away.

"There's always pressure. Being defending champions just adds to the pressure," Simmons told ESPNcricinfo. "That's where we start now: the T20Is against Afghanistan, against India, are the start of the preparations for the World Cup. Preparation doesn't start in June-July, it starts now."

Despite being placed tenth in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's T20I Rankings,West Indies still maintain the reputation of being a dangerous T20 outfit, with plenty of big hitters in their ranks. Simmons acknowledged that the 20-over format is their strongest, but admitted that it requires skills other than big hitting to excel at the highest level.

"It still is. Easily," Simmons said, when asked if T20 is their strongest format. "We need to make sure that some things improve. T20 is not only about hitting sixes. We can beat anybody if it's just about hitting sixes. So we've got to make sure that in all the different aspects, from singles to yorkers to fielding - it comes back to fielding again - we are as sharp as we can be. By the time we get to July-August, everything's supposed to be in place, ready for the World Cup.

"We've got to formulate how we play cricket. Different atmosphere, different grounds, different wickets – but if we have a formula of how we play, and we develop a formula to win T20 games, then it will transform itself to whichever part of the world we go."

Simmons showed full faith in Kieron Pollard, who was appointed limited-overs captain in September, despite having not played international cricket for nearly three years.

"A lot of people write him off. The pressure always makes him stand up," Simmons said of Pollard. "If you look at his career, every time he's under pressure, he stands up and he shows, 'Look, I've had a blip but I'm back.' And his experience in general – not just the knowledge but also his ability to involve all the players, and his ability to give players challenges, but at the same time be on their side, that natural leadership is there. It is something that will bring a lot to the team.

"It showed in the T20Is with India. He took the reins and led in those. That's what I expect from him: that responsibility of being captain is going to make him want to always be leading from the front. He is that kind of a leader – if he asks you to do something, it is not something he wouldn't do or he wouldn't want to do himself. So I expect a lot of runs to come from him."

West Indies are scheduled to play three T20Is against Afghanistan, beginning 6 November, followed by as many ODIs and a one-off Test, all in Lucknow.