Seattle Orcas

The Seattle Orcas are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team that competes in Major League Cricket (MLC).[3] The team is based in Seattle, Washington and was announced in 2023 as one of six inaugural franchises to play in Major League Cricket.[4] The Orcas are co-owned by the GMR Group and Satya Nadella, who are the team's main stakeholders and investors in the team.[2] Other investors include Soma Somasegar and Sanjay Parthasarathy, who have smaller stakes in the franchise.[5]

For the transit payment system, see ORCA card.

Seattle Orcas
Seattle Orcas Logo
LeagueMajor League Cricket
Personnel
OwnerGMR Group[1]
Satya Nadella[lower-alpha 1]
Team information
CitySeattle, Washington, United States
ColoursBlack, White, and Light Green
Founded2023 (2023)
Home groundMarymoor Cricket Community Park (planned)
Capacity6,000 (planned)
History
Notable players
Official websiteseattleorcas.com

The team plans to have their home ground at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington.[6] The park's cricket ground is set to have a capacity of up to 6,000 people once it is completed around 2025.[7] The Orcas' minor league affiliate are the Seattle Thunderbolts,[8] who play in Minor League Cricket and were champions in the 2022 season.[9]

History

Background

In November 2021, the Bellevue City Council passed a resolution to support further research into the cost and feasibility for a cricket facility in Seattle.[10] This was followed by a similar resolution that the Redmond City Council adopted in January 2022.[11] A motion of support to develop a cricket facility in Marymoor Park was then passed by King County in February 2022.[6][12] In May 2022, Major League Cricket announced that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella would co-own the Seattle franchise cricket team alongside other investors with minority stakes, including Soma Somasegar and Sanjay Parthasarathy.[13]

MLC unveiled the logo and team name of the Seattle Orcas prior to the inaugural MLC domestic draft in March 2023.[14] It was also announced that the team would partner with the GMR Group, who co-owns the Delhi Capitals of the Indian Premier League.[15] Somasegar, a minority owner of the franchise, stated that the Orcas name and colors "pay tribute to our local community [of Seattle] that has helped build that spirit of support".[16]

2023 season

The Orcas had the first pick of the MLC's inaugural domestic draft and selected Thunderbolts captain Harmeet Singh as their first overall draft pick.[17] Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, and Shubham Ranjane were also picked by the team; Mitchell Marsh and Quinton de Kock were announced as overseas signings set to play for the Orcas.[18] In early May, it was announced that Wayne Parnell, Dasun Shanaka, and Sikandar Raza would all also play for the team as direct signings.[19][20][21]

Current squad
  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Signed year Notes
Batsmen
Shehan JayasuriyaSri Lanka (1991-09-12) September 12, 1991Left-handedRight-arm off-break2023
Aaron JonesUnited States (1994-10-19) October 19, 1994Right-handedRight-arm legbreak2023
Nauman AnwarPakistan (1995-10-12) October 12, 1995Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023
Angelo PereraSri Lanka (1990-02-23) February 23, 1990Right-handedLeft-arm orthodox2023
All Rounders
Harmeet SinghIndia (1992-09-07) September 7, 1992Left-handedLeft-arm orthodox2023
Shubham RanjaneIndia (1994-03-26) March 26, 1994Right-handedRight-arm medium2023
Cameron GannonUnited States (1989-01-23) January 23, 1989Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023
Mitchell MarshAustralia (1991-08-20) August 20, 1991Right-handedRight-arm medium2023Direct signing
Dasun ShanakaSri Lanka (1991-09-09) September 9, 1991Right-handedRight-arm medium2023Direct signing
Wicketkeepers
Quinton de KockSouth Africa (1992-12-17) December 17, 1992Left-handed2023Direct signing
Bowlers
Phani SimhadriUnited States (1992-06-07) June 7, 1992Right-handedLeft-arm fast2023
Matthew TrompSouth Africa (2005-04-01) April 1, 2005Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023U23 player
Wayne ParnellSouth Africa (1989-07-30) July 30, 1989Left-handedLeft-arm medium-fast2023Direct signing

Notes
  1. Although there are numerous other investors backing the team (such as Soma Somasegar and Sanjay Parthasarathy), Nadella and the GMR Group are the team's main stakeholders and investors.[2]

References
  1. Schlosser, Kurt (March 16, 2023). "Meet the Seattle Orcas: New pro cricket team is backed by Microsoft CEO and other tech leaders". GeekWire. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  2. "Delhi Capitals joins hands with Satya Nadella to own Major League Cricket team in U.S." The Hindu. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  3. Oxley, Dyer (March 16, 2023). "Seattle is getting a major league cricket team". KUOW. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  4. Santos, Melissa (March 17, 2023). "Meet the Orcas, Seattle's new cricket team". Axios. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  5. Frank Sumrall (March 19, 2023). "Seattle dives into professional cricket with new franchise, the Orcas". KIRO News. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. Saunders, Hannah (February 24, 2022). "King County passes Motion of Support for Marymoor Cricket Community Park". Redmond Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. Peter Della Penna (March 18, 2023). "USA T20 franchise league MLC projected to spend $110 million on facilities ahead of 2023 launch". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. Cassidy, Benjamin (July 26, 2022). "Cricket's Up to Bat in Seattle". Seattle Met. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  9. Cassidy, Benjamin (September 27, 2022). "Seattle's Celebrating a Championship Today—in Cricket". Seattle Met. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  10. "Council Roundup: Smart debt management". City of Bellevue. November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2023. The council unanimously supported further research into the cost and feasibility for a cricket facility  ...
  11. "City of Redmond Resolution No. 1551". City of Redmond. January 18, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2023. Redmond supports efforts to evaluate the opportunity to bring Major League Cricket to our region and the development of a multipurpose cricket facility ... supporting development of world class cricket infrastructure in the region to support the growth of cricket and provide greater opportunities ...
  12. Peter Della Penna (March 18, 2022). "USA T20 franchise league MLC projected to spend $110 million on facilities ahead of 2023 launch". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. Shapiro, Nina (April 2, 2023). "Major League Cricket is coming to Seattle. Will it become the new soccer?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  14. "Satya Nadella's new Seattle pro cricket team has a name". Puget Sound Business Journal. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  15. "Seattle makes splash with new Major League Cricket team". Seattle Refined. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, GMR group secure rights for a team in US' T20 franchise Major League Cricket". Business Today. March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  17. Peter Della Penna (March 20, 2023). "Harmeet Singh goes first in MLC Draft to Seattle Orcas; Ali Khan and Unmukt Chand snapped by LA Knight Riders". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  18. Savage, Nic (March 20, 2023). "Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh sign on for inaugural Major League Cricket tournament". Fox Sports. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  19. "'Whale Of A Time' – Wayne Parnell Joins Quinton De Kock At Seattle Orcas". Club Cricket SA. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  20. "Skipper Dasun Shanaka signs with Seattle Orcas". Ada Derana. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  21. "Raza signs with Major League Cricket side Seattle Orcas". ZimsportLive. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
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