Klaasen Quits – Leadership Changes Hit Seattle Orcas Mid-Season
The Seattle Orcas have undergone significant leadership shifts during the latter half of the 2025 MLC season. Captain Heinrich Klaasen has voluntarily stepped down from his role to concentrate fully on his batting duties, while the franchise has parted ways with head coach Matthew Mott following a disappointing start to the season with five consecutive losses.
The franchise appointed Sikandar Raza as the new captain for the remainder of the tournament.
Strategic Changes Ahead of Crucial Matches
The announcement came on June 27, just before the Orcas’ sixth league game against MI New York in Dallas, a match they narrowly won on the final ball. The team described the moves as “strategic mid-season leadership changes,” attributing Mott’s departure to “differences in coaching and management strategies.”
“This is a moment of reflection and renewal for the Seattle Orcas,” said Hemant Dua, Orcas’ chief executive. “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.”
Coaching Staff and Future Plans
Mott had been at the helm since before the current season began, but no replacement has been announced yet. The assistant coach role is currently filled by Rishi Bhardwaj, with Ian Bell and Munaf Patel serving as batting and bowling coaches, respectively.
Performance Struggles and Batting Concerns
In a tournament marked by high scores, the Orcas have had inconsistent performances, managing totals of 149 for 5, 200 for 5, and 177 for 6 when batting first, but suffering collapses with only 60 and 144 runs in their two chasing attempts.
Klaasen has struggled with the bat, scoring just 55 runs across five innings at a strike rate of 144.73. Similarly, new captain Sikandar Raza has faced challenges, accumulating 35 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 85.36.
“We respect Heinrich’s decision to step down voluntarily as captain to focus on his batting,” Dua commented. “This reflects his character and team-first mindset. Sikandar was our unanimous choice once we heard from Klaasen about his decision. We believe these changes set the stage for a strong second half of the season.”
Team History and Ownership
The Orcas finished at the bottom of the points table in the 2024 MLC season as well, after previously topping the table and reaching the final in the inaugural 2023 season, where they fell to MI New York. Wayne Parnell captained the side in 2023 before Klaasen took over in 2024.
The franchise is co-owned by the GMR Group and JSW Sports, who also hold stakes in IPL’s Delhi Capitals, WPL, SA20’s Pretoria Capitals, and the UAE’s ILT20 Dubai Capitals. Several backroom staff, including Munaf Patel and Venugopal Rao (general manager of cricket operations), are shared with these teams.
Also Read: Hazlewood’s Five-Wicket Haul Powers Australia to Swift Victory Over West Indies