We are one of the charter teams for Major League Cricket (MLC), the USA’s first professional T20 cricket league. The team has already become one of the top sides in the league by complementing impressive international stars with some very promising home-based American cricketers and is based at Seattle, Washington.
The Orcas burst onto the scene in 2023 with potent batting, a lethal pace attack and shrewd captaincy. They produced some notable displays in the inaugural MLC season and attracted cricket lovers from right across North America, developing to strengthen CRTI’s mission of making cricket a household sport in America.
Whether it is flying against traditional rivals or standing tall against the championship favourites, the Seattle Orcas are right where they belong: Among Major League Cricket’s best franchises.
Seattle Orcas Team Profile
| Category | Details |
| Team Name | Seattle Orcas |
| League | Major League Cricket (MLC) |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Country | United States |
| City | Seattle, Washington |
| Team Colors | Green and Blue |
| Owner | Cricket Orcas LLC (supported by Satya Nadella, Soma Somasegar, Sanjay Parthasarathy and other investors) |
| Home Ground | Grand Prairie Stadium (primary MLC venue) |
| Competition Format | Twenty20 (T20) |
| Championships | 0 (as of 2026) |
| Best Finish | Runners-up (2023) |
History of Seattle Orcas
Seattle Orcas is one of the six founding members of Major League Cricket. Early on, management focused on building a stable roster that would complement an international experience with up-and-coming American players.
Made their mark in the very first season of 2023, and impressed the cricket buffs. The Orcas, propelled by firework bats and potent fast bowlers, were the winsome leaders of the league stage. This fearless style of cricket quickly endeared them to audiences across the tournament.
Conversely, a spot in the final of their inaugural season, though narrowly lost, showed Seattle had one of the league’s elite teams.
They went on to build their roster in the next seasons by signing new players from overseas and developing players domestically. The franchise has also dedicated resources to developing cricket throughout the Pacific Northwest and exposing new audiences to the game.
Seattle Orcas are today’s most recognizable Major League Cricket franchise and perennial playoff contenders.
Seattle Orcas Ownership
Seattle Orcas is owned by a dynamic ownership group of tech entrepreneurs and passionate with the game of cricket.
Investors like Satya Nadella, Soma Somasegar, and Sanjay Parthasarathy are among the more prominent backers and have given the franchise a respectable amount of visibility.
That (and then some) is their stated vision, which goes beyond championship titles. The potential owners are looking to build cricket facilities, youth programs and professional opportunities throughout the United States.
Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cricket markets in North America thanks to their long-term investment.
Home Ground
The franchise is a representation of Seattle, but Major League Cricket has centralized venues for many matches at the moment (and cricket facilities in North America are still coming online).
Home Venue Information
| Information | Details |
| Primary Venue | Grand Prairie Stadium |
| Location | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Capacity | Approximately 7,200+ |
| Surface | Balanced batting-friendly wicket |
| Boundary Size | Medium |
| Match Format | T20 |
As cricket infrastructure expands, Seattle Orcas are expected to benefit from future stadium developments closer to their home city.
Seattle Orcas Squad (2026)
The squad features a blend of international stars and promising American players.
| Player | Role |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| David Warner | Batter |
| Sikandar Raza | All-rounder |
| Kyle Mayers | All-rounder |
| Obed McCoy | Fast Bowler |
| Waqar Salamkheil | Spinner |
| Harmeet Singh | All-rounder |
| Aaron Jones | Batter |
| Steven Taylor | Batter |
| Shubham Ranjane | All-rounder |
| Jasdeep Singh | Fast Bowler |
| Cameron Gannon | Bowler |
| Ali Sheikh | All-rounder |
| Shehan Jayasuriya | All-rounder |
| Ayan Desai | Fast Bowler |
*Major League Cricket franchises generally do not publicly disclose individual player salaries or contract values.
Key Players to Watch
Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen is one of the world’s more destructive wicketkeeper-batters, and has explosive power against both pace and spin. He has consistently sealed innings and earned his place as one of Seattle’s biggest match-winners.
David Warner
The 36-year-old Australian opener brings leadership, continuity, and attack. Highlights Warner finger guns often put bowlers on rent in first overs
Sikandar Raza
Raza is one of the true all-rounders who brings incredible value to the side. With his off-spin bowling and being a middle-order batsman, he is one of the most complete players in this team.
Kyle Mayers
The West Indies all-rounder can turn multiple games with bat and ball, His aggressive nature is ideal for the T20 format.
Harmeet Singh
Harmeet is an almost ever-present to win the Orcas games, with his dashing bowling and reliable lower-order batting.
Seattle Orcas Performance by Season
| Season | Position | Result |
| 2023 | League Leaders | Runners-up |
| 2024 | Playoff Contenders | Competitive Season |
| 2025 | Mid-table Finish | Missed Final |
| 2026 | Current Season | Competing |
The team’s inaugural campaign remains its most successful season, highlighted by consistent performances throughout the league stage.
Seattle Orcas Batting Strength
Seattle has one of the most intimidating batting lineups in Major League Cricket.
The opening pair sometimes gives fast starts, while the middle-order batters have to take their time and build a partnership in between the 2nd and 5th overs. Finishers with Power help the team to push for acceleration in the final overs and, more often than not taking to 180+ scores, making them a tough side to stop.
So even if the pitches themselves stay true, players like David Warner, Heinrich Klaasen, Aaron Jones and Kyle Mayers have what it takes to boss any bowling attack into slow submission.
Bowling Department
Seattle has a plethora of pace, swing, variation and spin in their bowling attack.
Obed McCoy — whose slower deliveries and yorkers make him especially deadly at the death- while Sikandar Raza and Harmeet Singh are useful spin options, Waqar Salamkheil offers a wicket-taking option in the early and middle overs.
The mix in the bowling unit enables their captain to read and prepare for different teams and conditions better.
Seattle Orcas Team Records
Even though Seattle Orcas are still the baby franchise in Major League Cricket, they’ve already got quite the resume. It was one of the most successful first season for an expansion team in franchise T20 cricket.
| Record | Achievement |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Best League Finish | 1st in League Stage (2023) |
| Best Tournament Finish | Runners-up (2023) |
| Championship Titles | 0 |
| Playoff Appearances | 1+ |
| Highest Team Total | 238/5 (MLC 2026) – League Record |
| Team Colors | Green & Blue |
| Home Region | Seattle, Washington |
The franchise made an immediate impact by finishing at the top of the standings during the inaugural season before narrowly missing out on the championship. Since then, Seattle has continued rebuilding with experienced international stars and promising domestic players
Major Achievements
The youngest of franchises but are achieving way too many firsts in the American cricket landscape even before they come of age.
1. MLC 2023 Finalists
Seattle looked like champions for much of the first Major League Cricket season, topping the league stage before reaching the final, vanquishing spirits from across America.
2. Strong International Core
The franchise has hosted some world-class cricketers from across the globe over the years, including players in and outside the domestic circuit; Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe to West-Indies cricket players as well.
3. Promoting Cricket in the Pacific Northwest
The Seattle Orcas have been instrumental in bringing professional cricket to a new audience in Washington State and promoting grassroots programs and community initiatives.
4. League Batting Record
Seattle Orcas scored a record 267 against the Texas Super Kings in April when they showcased one of the deepest line-ups ever seen in Major League Cricket history.
Seattle Orcas Rivalries
Seattle also has some budding rivalries with franchises across the league that’ll hopefully flourish as Major League Cricket continues to develop.
Seattle Orcas vs MI New York
Think of this one as Seattle’s biggest rivalry, if you will. After finishing top of the league stage, the two teams faced in their first MLC final before MI New York handed Seattle its first championship defeat.
All meetings between these two sides have been well covered for obvious reasons: both lineups boast superstars, and the teams have a competitive history.
Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas
Seattle and Texas Super Kings top affords thrilling matches, pitting seasoned international stars against one another quite regularly.
Both sides are known for their aggressive batting, and as such, these games produce some of the highest-scoring in the league.
Seattle Orcas vs San Francisco Unicorns
Seattle Orcas and San Francisco Unicorns naturally have a Pacific Northwest–California connection that has created a regional rivalry.
Encounters across these franchises have traditionally been high-scoring affairs with plenty of international talent on show in both squads.
Seattle Orcas vs Washington Freedom
A further developing competition has been with Washington Freedom. Both have built solid squads and compete annually for playoff spots, meaning each encounter is significant in the battle to qualify.
Strengths of Seattle Orcas
There are multiple reasons to make the Seattle Orcas one of the most feared teams in the league.
Explosive Batting
Well, the franchise has a proven track record of signing world-class power hitters who are in prime position to score quick runs at both ends of the innings (the powerplay and death overs).
Experienced Overseas Players
Seattle has signed globally proven players with leadership skills, tactical awareness and experience in IPL, BBL, CPL, PSL, SA20 & international cricket.
Balanced Squad
They have a great balance of quality pace and spin options along with genuine all-rounders and explosive finishers.
Strong Team Culture
The franchise stresses teamwork, professionalism and the development of players for the long-term, as it continues to advance cricket in the United States.
Seattle Orcas Statistics Snapshot
| Category | Details |
| League | Major League Cricket |
| Country | United States |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Team Type | Franchise T20 Cricket |
| Best Finish | Runners-up |
| Home Colors | Green & Blue |
| Overseas Stars | Multiple International Players |
| Domestic Players | USA National Team Members |
| Playing Style | Aggressive Batting & Balanced Bowling |
Conclusion
A dark horse in MLC, the Seattle Orcas have quickly become a marquee franchise. Although it was only established in 2023, the team has gained notoriety for entertaining cricket with international players and competitive outings thus far. An inaugural season runners-up finish, a strong ownership group, and a long-term vision have them among the league’s most admired franchises.
Seattle Orcas are still in the title mix for future MLCs with a balanced roster of experienced overseas stars and homegrown American players. While cricket keeps on developing in the US, the establishment is expected to be instrumental in encouraging interest in the game while motivating another era of American cricketers.
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