Seattle Orcas in Turmoil: Coach Mott Out, Klaasen Resigns as Captain Amid Losing Streak

The Seattle Orcas have made significant changes mid-season, parting ways with head coach Matthew Mott and seeing captain Heinrich Klaasen step down in the ongoing 2025 season of Major League Cricket (MLC). The team is currently struggling at the bottom of the table, having lost all five of their matches.

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

According to an official statement released by MLC, the decision to remove Mott stemmed from "differences in coaching and management strategies."

Klaasen has voluntarily relinquished his captaincy to focus more intently on his batting performance. Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwean all-rounder, will now take over as the team's captain.

"This is a moment of reflection and renewal for the Seattle Orcas," stated Hemant Dua, the team's CEO. "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 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, after finishing atop the table and making it to the final in 2023, plummeted to the bottom of the standings in 2024. The team finds itself in a similar position this season. They will aim to leverage their remaining games to turn around what has been a disappointing season thus far.