After basement finish, Orcas look to Warner to lead revival

How did they fare last season: Bottom of the table

After a rock-bottom finish last season, Seattle Orcas have called for a complete overhaul of the squad. The Orcas have let go 11 of their players including seven foreigners in the hope of some reversal of fortunes with the change in personnel. This audacity in the Orcas' conviction is headlined by the non-retention of captain Wayne Parnell along with the likes of Quinton de Kock, who has been indifferent with his form after international retirement.

The Orcas were plagued by a misfiring batting unit, which contributed heavily to their dismal campaign - managing just a solitary win throughout the season. Their biggest weapon, Heinrich Klaasen, endured a surprisingly forgettable run, scoring only 97 runs across six innings. It was a stark contrast to his stellar 2023 season, where he had spearheaded the Orcas' charge to the final. Left arm spinner Harmeet Singh did his reputation no harm with eight wickets in five innings at economy rate of 7.7 and is now set to assume a leadership role in the spin attack after being a successful understudy to Imad Wasim over the past two seasons.

International Contingent:

The Orcas have anointed Australia white ball legend David Warner as their captain for the season. Warner, 38, is expected to fill in the vacuum at the top of order after the departure of de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. Warner will be joined by fellow southpaws Shimron Hetmyer and Kyle Mayers, as the Orcas look to bolster their batting unit with a dose of West Indian firepower.

Sikandar Raza is set to make his MLC debut this season. Fresh off his PSL final exploits, Raza, now 39, has shown no signs of slowing down. Set for his maiden MLC appearance, the Zimbabwean veteran is likely to be the heartbeat of the side - capable of changing games with both his explosive lower-order hitting and unorthodox off spin. Orcas also bring in some Afghan flavor in the form of Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Waqar Salamkheil into their bowling mix to add variety.

Domestic Cadre:

Orcas rewarded USA vice captain Jasdeep Singh's dramatic performances in the 2024 season by naming him as their number 1 draft pick. Jasdeep came in as a temporary replacement for the Washington Freedom and made an immediate impact, bagging two consecutive Player of the Match awards. His crucial cameos played a vital role in Freedom's spirited run towards the silverware. Orcas made a surprising move to release seam-up all-rounder Shubham Ranjane ahead of the draft. Renowned for his power-hitting and deceptive pace variations, Ranjane is widely regarded as the top seam-up all-rounder in the country. With his standout performance in the recently concluded Houston Open, the Orcas may soon feel the sting of letting him go.

Orcas finally ran out of patience with opener Nauman Anwar and Shehan Jayasuriya. While Anwar has been ousted for performance reasons, Jayasuriya's exit is perceived to be related to his friction with the team management over fitness standards. Orcas drafted in former Mumbai batsman Sujit Nayak as their second draft pick ahead of USA regulars like Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir and he will likely feature in their opening game against Washington Freedom on June 14.

Probable XI:David Warner, Steven Taylor , Sujit Nayak, Heinrich Klaasen, Shimron Hetmyer, Sikandar Raza, Harmeet Singh, Aaron Jones, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Cameron Gannon