Seattle – The Seattle Orcas have ended Matthew Mott’s short stint as head coach after five defeats from five in this season’s Major League Cricket. Heinrich Klaasen has relinquished the captaincy “to focus fully on his responsibilities as a batter”, with Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza promoted to lead the side.
“This is a moment of reflection and renewal for the Seattle Orcas,” chief executive Hemant Dua said in Wednesday’s release. “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.”
No successor for Mott has been announced. Assistant coach Rishi Bhardwaj continues for now, with Ian Bell and Munaf Patel overseeing batting and bowling.
At first glance, the numbers tell the story. In a competition where 200-plus totals have become routine, the Orcas have managed 145 for 9, 200 for 5 and 177 for 6 when setting targets, and collapsed to 60 all out and 144 all out in two chases. Klaasen, usually destructive, owns 55 runs at a strike rate of 144.73 across five innings; Raza’s 35 runs from three attempts have come at a subdued 85.36.
“We respect Heinrich’s decision to step down voluntarily as captain to focus on his batting,” Dua added. “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 shake-up comes after a steady slide. Seattle topped the table in MLC’s inaugural year in 2023 – they lost the final to MI New York – but propped up the standings in 2024 under Klaasen. This year’s winless opening fortnight has amplified concerns.
Raza, 38, brings caps for Zimbabwe and experience from T20 leagues in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UAE. His tactical nous is well regarded, yet leadership in a struggling camp poses fresh challenges. “Extensive international experience and cricketing intelligence,” the Orcas said, made him an “unanimous choice”.
Seattle are co-owned by the GMR Group and JSW Sports – the same partnership behind Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL. That shared infrastructure provides resources but also adds expectation; another bottom-placed finish would not sit well in a set-up used to more success.
For now, the immediate task is ending the losing streak. A calmer dressing-room, a captain with nothing to lose, and a batting line-up that really should fire – the Orcas hope those ingredients click before the season slips away.
