Note: This is the second of a two-part series of guest posts by former Microsoft senior execs Parthasarathy and Somasegar. They are co-owners of the Seattle Orcas MLC team, alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, tech executives Samir Bodas and Ashok Krishnamurthi, and Delhi Capitals’ owners GMR Sports. The first part of this two-part series was on the Orcas’ infrastructure and stadium plans.
When we first started working on the Seattle Orcas, we knew that launching a cricket team in the U.S. was going to take more than just building a roster. It had to be about more than just matches and results. We were trying to build a brand, a culture, and a relationship with fans — many of whom were discovering cricket for the first time.
That’s why we adopted the phrase “America’s favorite cricket team.”
At first, it was half-serious — something that came out of a branding session in year two. But it stuck. It made us laugh, but it also made us think. Because beneath the humor was a real aspiration: to be the most beloved, most inclusive, most locally rooted cricket team in the country.
And that’s where our values come in. We developed a simple framework that now guides everything we do. We call it FLICK:
- F — Fans come first.
- L — Love for cricket should spread across America.
- I — Inclusivity is non-negotiable: families, kids, men, women, all communities.
- C — Compete to win.
- K — Keep it fun.
These are more than just nice-sounding words. They shape our decisions every day.
Fans first means we don’t just play matches — we show up. We host events. We listen. We try to create opportunities for people to connect with the game and with each other. Last year, we brought the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fan fests Bellevue. Over 2,000 people showed up. This year, we organized a 5K and 10K community run. It’s about showing that this team is part of the fabric of Seattle.
Love for cricket isn’t just about importing stars — it’s about planting seeds here in the U.S. That means investing in youth. Supporting the national team. Celebrating domestic players. And creating a pipeline where American kids can grow up dreaming of playing cricket professionally — not just for the Orcas, but for the U.S. national team.
Inclusivity means this team is for everyone. We’ve worked hard to make our events family-oriented — the kind of thing two parents and their kids can enjoy together. It’s not just about one ethnicity or one demographic. We’re proud of our ties to the South Asian community, but we want our fanbase to look like the Pacific Northwest — diverse, open, and welcoming.
Compete to win is straightforward. We want to be excellent. That’s why we brought in Hemant Dua as our CEO — a leader with deep experience in sports management and a tireless commitment to the day-to-day work of building a great team. He’s been out scouting Minor League games. He’s been strengthening the roster. He’s made us sharper and more competitive.
Keep it fun is our reminder not to take ourselves too seriously. Cricket is a beautiful, complex, historic game. But in a new market like the U.S., it has to be entertaining. Approachable. Joyful. That’s why we aim to create lighthearted, high-energy moments that fans remember — whether it’s in stadiums, at fan festivals, or online.
Underneath all of this is a deep belief in the long-term potential of cricket in America.
Yes, this is a startup. Yes, we are building from scratch. But we believe the ingredients are here. The talent. The fan base. The passion. The culture. We just have to connect the dots — and do it with integrity.
We also know we won’t get everything right the first time. But we’re listening. We’re learning. And we’re committed.
Our vision isn’t just to win games. It’s to build something that matters — for our city, for the sport, and for the next generation of fans and players.
We want the Seattle Orcas to be America’s favorite cricket team — and we’re working every day to make that real.
