Seattle Orcas in Mid-Season Overhaul: Mott Out as Coach, Klaasen Resigns Captaincy

Seattle Orcas Shakeup: Coach Mott Departs, Klaasen Steps Down as Captain

The Seattle Orcas have made significant changes mid-season, parting ways with head coach Matthew Mott. The team currently sits at the bottom of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 standings, having failed to secure a single win in their first five matches.

The Orcas are looking to turn their season around. © MLC

According to an official statement on the MLC website, the decision to remove Mott was due to "differences in coaching and management strategies."

In another significant development, captain Heinrich Klaasen has relinquished his leadership role to concentrate on his batting performance. Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwean all-rounder, will now take over as captain of the Seattle Orcas.

Hemant Dua, CEO of the team, commented on the changes: "This is a moment of reflection and renewal for the Seattle Orcas. This has been a tough run for the team, and with it, some difficult decisions had to be made. We are grateful to Matthew for his commitment and professionalism during his time with us, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors."

Dua further added, "We respect Heinrich's decision to step down voluntarily as captain to focus on his batting. This reflects his character and team-first mindset. Sikandar was our unanimous choice once we heard from Klassen about his decision. We believe these changes set the stage for a strong second half of the season."

The Orcas are aiming to rebound after a disappointing run. After finishing at the top of the table and reaching the final in 2023, they ended at the bottom in 2024. While they currently occupy a similar position this season, they still have opportunities to turn their fortunes around.