Colombo Strikers, formerly known as Colombo Stars and Colombo Kings, is a franchise Twenty20 cricket team based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that competes in the Lanka Premier League. 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]In June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League, due to financial issues.[7][8]
 | ||
| League | Lanka Premier League | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||
| Captain | Thisara Perera | |
| Coach | Carl Crowe | |
| Owner | Sagar Khanna (SKKY Group) | |
| Team information | ||
| City | Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka | |
| Colours | Pink Purple | |
| Founded | 2020: Colombo Kings 2021: Colombo Stars 2023: Colombo Strikers | |
| Home ground | R. Premadasa Stadium | |
| Capacity | 35,000 | |
| History | ||
| LPL wins | 0 | |
| ||
In November 2021, the team changed its name to Colombo Stars after Softlogic Holdings PLC took over the ownership of the franchise.[9] 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]
Seasons
edit| Year | League table standing | Final standing |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1st out of 5 | Semi-finalists |
| 2021 | 3rd out of 5 | Playoffs |
| 2022 | 3rd out of 5 | Runners up |
| 2023 | 5th out of 5 | League Stage |
| 2024 | 3rd out of 5 | Playoffs |
Current squad
edit- Sources: ESPNcricinfo,[12] ThePapare.com[13]
- Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| No. | Name | Nat. | Birth date | 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 | — | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas |
| 23 | Sadeera Samarawickrama |
|
30 August 1995 | Right handed | — | 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
edit| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Carl Crowe |
| Bowling Coach | Chaminda Vaas |
| Assistant Coach | Simon Helmot |
Captains
edit- As of 19 June 2024
| No. | Player | From | To | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angelo Mathews
|
2020 | 2022 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60.71 |
| 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 |
| 5 | Babar Azam
|
2023 | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Thisara Perera
|
2024 | present |
- Source: CricInfo[14]
Statistics
editHighest individual score
edit- 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[15] | ||||
Most career wickets
edit- 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[16]
Best figures in an innings
edit- 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[17]
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
edit| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Chest branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Moose Clothing | |||
| 2021 | Softlogic Holdings | |||
| 2022 | MazaPlay | Softlogic Holdings | ||
| 2023 | Kheloyar | 1xBook | ||
| 2024 | Babu88 Sports | Zetto Sports | Oateo | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kumarasinghe, Chathura (17 November 2020). "Faza Group to unleash Colombo Kings on LPL". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Meet Murfad Mustafa, the Indian who owns LPL team Colombo Kings". The Week. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Whatmore excited to return to Sri Lanka for LPL". BDCricTime. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ Sanyal, S. (21 October 2020). "LPL 2020: The complete player lists for all Lanka Premier League franchises". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Dav Whatmore won't be joining Lanka Premier League". BDCricTime. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ Scroll staff (19 October 2020). "Cricket: Gayle, du Plessis, Afridi among marquee names picked in Lanka Premier League draft". scroll.in. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "SLC approves termination of Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking". CricBuzz. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Colombo Kings, Dambulla Viiking terminate contracts, withdraw from LPL 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Softlogic Holdings to take ownership of Colombo Franchise for LPL 2021". The Papare. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ LPL denies media reports on dispute with Softlogic NewsWire. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "New York-based SKKY group takes over LPL Colombo franchise". Ada Derana. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Pathirana, Udana, Janat the most expensive picks in LPL 2024 auction". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "LPL 2024 Auction: Full Squads of all 5 Teams". ThePapare. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ ESPNcricinfo
- ^ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Most career wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Best bowling figures in an innings". Retrieved 20 October 2020.
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