Seattle Orcas Head Coach Matthew Mott Out Mid-Season; Klaasen Resigns Captaincy Amidst Team Shakeup

Seattle Orcas Shake-Up: Coach Mott Departs, Klaasen Steps Down

The Seattle Orcas have announced a significant mid-season change, parting ways with head coach Matthew Mott. The decision comes as the team struggles in the 2025 season of Major League Cricket (MLC), currently holding the bottom position with no wins in five games.

An official statement released by MLC cited "differences in coaching and management strategies" as the reason for the change.

In another major development, captain Heinrich Klaasen has relinquished his leadership role to concentrate on his batting performance. Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwean all-rounder, will assume the captaincy.

Hemant Dua, CEO of the Seattle Orcas, addressed 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 commented on Klaasen's decision and Raza's appointment: "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 Seattle Orcas are aiming to rebound after a disappointing performance in the current season. After finishing at the top of the table and reaching the final in 2023, the team finished at the bottom in 2024. While they currently find themselves in a similar position, there is still time to recover.