Bridgetown (Barbados), Aug 19 (IANS/CMC): There is renewed speculation surrounding the future of Ottis Gibson as head coach of the West Indies cricket team..

Gibson was not in Grenada where the West Indies are due to start a one-day series against touring Bangladesh at the national stadium Wednesday, reports CMC.

The Barbados Nation newspaper has quoted West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron as saying that Gibson was not with the 13-man squad in St.George’s.

The Nation also quoted Cameron as saying he could not “confirm nor deny” whether the 45-year-old Barbadian has been fired from his position as West Indies’ head coach.

WICB announced in February that Gibson had signed a new three-year contract as head coach which was expected to run until October 2016.

Gibson became West Indies coach in early 2010, replacing John Dyson, after serving as England's bowling coach. West Indies have shown recent improvements under Gibson by winning the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

However, the poor performances that have followed including losing the recent series in the Caribbean to New Zealand have triggered fresh speculation over his future as head coach of WICB.