Colombo Kaps
Colombo based franchise cricket team of the Lanka Premier League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colombo Kaps, formerly known as Colombo Stars, Colombo Kings and Colombo Strikers, is a franchise Twenty20 cricket team based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that competes in the Lanka Premier League. Thisara Perera is the captain of this franchise while Carl Crowe is the head coach.
| ||
| League | Lanka Premier League | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||
| Captain | Thisara Perera | |
| Coach | Carl Crowe | |
| Owner | Witness Sports Alliance | |
| Team information | ||
| City | Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka | |
| Colours | Pink Purple | |
| Founded | 2020: Colombo Kings 2021: Colombo Stars 2023: Colombo Strikers 2025: Colombo Kaps | |
| Home ground | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | |
| Capacity | 35,000 | |
| History | ||
| LPL wins | 0 | |
| ||
Franchise history
2020 season
In the inaugural season, Murfad Mustafa was the owner of the franchise.[1][2] The team was supposed to be coached by former Australian cricketer Dav Whatmore.[3][4] However he pulled out ahead of the 2020 Lanka Premier League for personal reasons and was replaced by former English cricketer Kabir Ali.[5] Kabir Ali was again replaced by Herschelle Gibbs after he tested positive for COVID-19. Angelo Mathews was announced as the icon player and Andre Russell was named as the marquee foreign player.[6]
2021 season
In June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League, due to financial issues.[7][8] In November 2021, the team changed its name to Colombo Stars after Softlogic Holdings PLC took over the ownership of the franchise.[9]
2022 season
2023 season
In May 2023, LPL promoter and the chairman of IPG Group told that Softlogic Holdings PLC had part ways with Colombo Stars with mutual understanding.[10] In May 2023, the team changed its name to Colombo Strikers after SKKY Group took over the ownership.[11]
2024 season
2025 season
In April 2025, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that franchise owners had been terminated ahead of the 2025 Lanka Premier League due to their failure to fulfill the obligations of a team owner in the Lanka Premier League.[12]
In mid-October 2025, it was announced that the Colombo franchise had been purchased by Witness Sports Alliance LLC, led by Indian entrepreneurs Saranyan Palaniswamy and K.C. Shyam Kangayan, and the franchise was renamed as Colombo Kaps.[13]
Current squad
- Sources: ESPNcricinfo,[14] ThePapare.com[15]
- Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth (age) | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Salary (US$) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||||
| Kavin Bandara |  |
22 August 1997 | Left handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| 11 | Shevon Daniel | |
15 March 2004 | Left handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 10,000 | |
| Nipun Dhananjaya | |
28 September 2000 | Left handed | Right-arm off break | 2023 | Retained | ||
| Sheshan Fernando | |
14 April 1993 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| 10 | Muhammad Waseem |  |
12 February 1994 | Right handed | Right-arm medium | 2024 | 20,000 | Overseas |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||||
| 21 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |  |
28 November 2001 | Right handed | N/a | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas |
| 23 | Sadeera Samarawickrama | |
30 August 1995 | Right handed | N/a | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| All-rounders | ||||||||
| 7 | Shadab Khan |  |
4 October 1998 | Right handed | Right-arm leg break | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| 29 | Chamika Karunaratne | |
29 May 1996 | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2023 | Retained | |
| 74 | Angelo Perera | |
23 February 1990 | Right handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | 20,000 | |
| 1 | Thisara Perera | |
3 April 1989 | Left handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | Direct signing | Captain |
| 23 | Glenn Phillips |  |
6 December 1996 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| 1 | Dunith Wellalage | |
9 January 2003 | Left handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | 50,000 | |
| Spin bowlers | ||||||||
| 4 | Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar | |
15 July 2007 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 10,000 | Overseas |
| Pace bowlers | ||||||||
| 3 | Taskin Ahmed |  |
3 April 1995 | Left handed | Right-arm fast | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas |
| 71 | Binura Fernando | |
12 July 1995 | Right handed | Left-arm medium-fast | 2024 | 55,000 | |
| Chamika Gunasekara | |
25 November 1999 | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | 10,000 | ||
| 81 | Matheesha Pathirana | |
18 December 2002 | Right handed | Right-arm fast | 2024 | 120,000 | |
| Garuka Sanketh | |
30 May 2005 | Left handed | Right-arm medium | 2024 | 13,000 | ||
| Isitha Wijesundera | |
11 May 1997 | Left handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
Administration and support staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Carl Crowe |
| Bowling coach | Chaminda Vaas |
| Assistant coach | Simon Helmot |
History
| Season | Head coach | Assistant coach |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 |  Herschelle Gibbs |
Rangana Herath |
| 2021 | Ruwan Kalpage |
Trevin Mathew |
| 2022 | Chamila Gamage | |
| 2023 |  Simon Helmot |
Jerome Jayaratne |
| 2024 |  Carl Crowe |
Simon Helmot |
Captains
- As of 19 June 2024
| No. | Player | From | To | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angelo Mathews | 2020 | 2022 | 24 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 54.16 |
| 2 | Dhananjaya de Silva | 2021 | 2021 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| 3 | Niroshan Dickwella | 2023 | 2023 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| 4 | Chamika Karunaratne | 2023 | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 5 | Babar Azam | 2023 | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Thisara Perera | 2024 | present | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
- Source: ESPNcricinfo[16]
Seasons
Statistics
Highest individual score
- As of 18 August 2023
| Runs | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108* | Laurie Evans | Jaffna Stallions | Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota | 10 December 2020 |
| 104 | Babar Azam | Galle Gladiators | Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy | 7 August 2023 |
| 80 | Dinesh Chandimal | Kandy Tuskers | Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota | 26 November 2020 |
| 73* | Angelo Mathews | Jaffna Kings | Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy | 12 December 2022 |
| 73 | Galle Gladiators | R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 12 December 2021 | |
| Source: Cricinfo[17] | ||||
Most career wickets
- As of 19 August 2023
| Wickets | Player | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Jeffrey Vandersay | 2020–2023 |
| 21 | Dushmantha Chameera | 2020–2021 |
| 15 | Seekkuge Prasanna | 2021–2022 |
| 15 | Naveen-ul-Haq | 2021–2022 |
| 13 | Kasun Rajitha | 2022 |
| 12 | Matheesha Pathirana | 2023-2023 |
- Source: CricInfo[18]
Best figures in an innings
- As of 19 August 2023
| Figures | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/25 | Jeffrey Vandersay | Kandy Warriors | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 17 December 2021 |
| 5/22 | Kasun Rajitha | Dambulla Aura | 14 December 2022 | |
| 4/20 | Kasun Rajitha | Kandy Falcons | 22 December 2022 | |
| 4/35 | Dushmantha Chameera | Kandy Warriors | 14 December 2021 | |
| 3/24 | Matheesha Pathirana | Kandy Warriors | 31 July 2023 | |
| 3/17 | Benny Howell | Galle Gladiators | 21 December 2022 |
- Source: CricInfo[19]
Team identity
Anthem
| Year | Anthem | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Say Colombo Kings | Pasan Liyanage, Pradhee, Shaa, Lucky |
| 2021 | Romaine Willis, Randhir Witana, Kaizer Kaiz |
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Chest branding | Sleeve branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Moose Clothing | Faza.ae | Sport Loop | Maaté | Safco International, 11 Wickets |
| 2021 | Softlogic Holdings | N/a | Softlogic Life Insurance, Odel, Asiri Health | ||
| 2022 | MazaPlay | Softlogic Holdings | |||
| 2023 | Kheloyar | 1xBook | Mentos | ||
| 2024 | Babu88 Sports[20] | Zetto Sports | Oateo | Turbo Energy Drink, GENXT | |
