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Colombo Kaps

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Colombo Kaps
LeagueLanka Premier League
Personnel
CaptainKamindu Mendis
CoachChamara Kapugedara
OwnerWitness Sports Alliance
Team information
CityColombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Colours  Yellow
Founded2020: Colombo Kings
2021: Colombo Stars
2023: Colombo Strikers
2025: Colombo Kaps
Home groundR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Capacity35,000
History
LPL wins0

T20I kit

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. Kamindu Mendis is the captain of this franchise while Chamara Kapugedara is the head coach.

Franchise history

[edit]

2020 season

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

2023 season

[edit]

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

[edit]

2026 season

[edit]

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]

Before the 2026 player draft, the Mendis duo, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis, Jimmy Neesham and Ben McDermott signed with the Kaps as pre-draft signings.[14][15] Chamara Kapugedera and Nuwan Kulasekara were appointed as the head coach and the bowling coach respectively.[16][17]

Current squad

[edit]
No. Name Nat. Date of birth Batting style Bowling style Year signed Salary
(US$)		 Category Notes
Batters
2 Thanuka Dabare Sri Lanka 20 August 1998 (age 27) Left handed Right-arm off break 2026 20,000 Local Classic
Wicket-keepers
83 Rubin Hermann South Africa 26 January 1997 (age 29) Left handed N/a 2026 20,000 Overseas Classic Replacement for Mohammad Haris
28 Ben McDermott Australia 12 December 1994 (age 31) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 60,000 Overseas Star
23 Sadeera Samarawickrama Sri Lanka 30 August 1995 (age 30) Right handed N/a 2026 30,000 Local Gold
25 Sharujan Shanmuganathan Sri Lanka 25 April 2006 (age 20) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 10,000 Emerging U23
All-rounders
19 Ashen Bandara Sri Lanka 23 November 1998 (age 27) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 80,000 Local Icon Replacement for Kusal Mendis
14 Kushal Bhurtel Nepal 22 January 1997 (age 29) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 15,000 Associate Star
95 Janith Liyanage Sri Lanka 12 July 1995 (age 31) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 30,000 Local Gold
21 Kamindu Mendis Sri Lanka 30 September 1998 (age 27) Left handed Ambidextrous spin 2026 60,000 Local Star Captain
50 James Neesham New Zealand 17 September 1990 (age 35) Left handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 80,000 Overseas Icon
37 Milan Rathnayake Sri Lanka 1 August 1996 (age 29) Left handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 30,000 Local Gold
51 Movin Subasingha Sri Lanka 6 July 2000 (age 26) Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 20,000 Local Classic
10 Malsha Tharupathi Sri Lanka 7 November 2004 (age 21) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 10,000 Emerging U23
Pace bowlers
45 Shahnawaz Dahani Pakistan 5 August 1998 (age 27) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 30,000 Overseas Gold
71 Binura Fernando Sri Lanka 12 July 1995 (age 31) Right handed Left-arm medium fast 2026 50,000 Local Platinum
Ripon Mondol Bangladesh 21 March 2003 (age 23) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 Overseas Classic Replacement for Hasan Mahmud
29 Arul Pragasam Sri Lanka 6 November 1993 (age 32) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 Local Classic
Spin bowlers
99 Crishan Kalugamage Italy 16 June 1991 (age 35) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 15,000 Associate Star Playing until Kushal Bhurtel is unavailable.
5 Wanuja Sahan Sri Lanka 17 June 2003 (age 23) Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2026 30,000 Local Gold
7 Mujeeb Ur Rahman Afghanistan 28 March 2001 (age 25) Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 50,000 Overseas Platinum
46 Jeffrey Vandersay Sri Lanka 5 February 1990 (age 36) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 20,000 Local Classic
Source(s) | ThePapare, Inside Sport & Sri Lanka Cricket[18][19][20]

Administration and support staff

[edit]
Position Name
Head coach Chamara Kapugedera
Bowling coach Nuwan Kulasekara
Assistant coach Vacant

History

[edit]
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
2026 Chamara Kapugedera Nuwan Kulasekara

Captains

[edit]
As of 28 July 2026
No. Player From To Mat Won Lost Tie&W Tie&L NR Win%
1 Angelo Mathews Sri Lanka 2020 2022 24 13 10 1 0 0 54.16
2 Dhananjaya de Silva Sri Lanka 2021 2021 4 1 3 0 0 0 25.00
3 Niroshan Dickwella Sri Lanka 2023 2023 5 2 3 0 0 0 40.00
4 Chamika Karunaratne Sri Lanka 2023 2023 2 1 1 0 0 0 50.00
5 Babar Azam Pakistan 2023 2023 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
6 Thisara Perera Sri Lanka 2024 2024 9 4 5 0 0 0 44.44
7 Kusal Mendis Sri Lanka 2026 2026 2 1 1 0 0 0 50.00
8 Kamindu Mendis Sri Lanka 2026 Present 5 3 2 0 0 0 60.00

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

Statistics

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Highest individual score

[edit]
As of 18 August 2023
Runs Player Opposition Venue Date
108* Laurie EvansJaffna Stallions Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota10 December 2020
104 Babar Azam Galle Gladiators Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy 7 August 2023
80 Dinesh ChandimalKandy Tuskers Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota26 November 2020
73* Angelo MathewsJaffna Kings Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy12 December 2022
73 Galle Gladiators R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo12 December 2021
Source: Cricinfo[22]

Most career wickets

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Wickets Player Seasons
22 Jeffrey Vandersay2020–2023
21 Dushmantha Chameera2020–2021
15 Seekkuge Prasanna2021–2022
15 Naveen-ul-Haq2021–2022
13 Kasun Rajitha2022
12 Matheesha Pathirana 2023-2023
  • Source: CricInfo[23]

Best figures in an innings

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Figures Player Opposition Venue Date
6/25 Jeffrey VandersayKandy WarriorsR. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo17 December 2021
5/22 Kasun RajithaDambulla Aura14 December 2022
4/20 Kasun RajithaKandy Falcons22 December 2022
4/35 Dushmantha ChameeraKandy Warriors14 December 2021
3/24 Matheesha Pathirana Kandy Warriors 31 July 2023
3/17 Benny HowellGalle Gladiators21 December 2022
  • Source: CricInfo[24]

Team identity

[edit]

Anthem

[edit]
Year Anthem Artist(s)
2020 Say Colombo Kings Pasan Liyanage, Pradhee, Shaa, Lucky
2021 Romaine Willis, Randhir Witana, Kaizer Kaiz

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

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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[25] Zetto Sports Oateo Turbo Energy Drink, GENXT
2026 Kasagala Group

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Kumarasinghe, Chathura (17 November 2020). "Faza Group to unleash Colombo Kings on LPL". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Meet Murfad Mustafa, the Indian who owns LPL team Colombo Kings". The Week. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Whatmore excited to return to Sri Lanka for LPL". BDCricTime. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  4. ↑ Sanyal, S. (21 October 2020). "LPL 2020: The complete player lists for all Lanka Premier League franchises". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Dav Whatmore won't be joining Lanka Premier League". BDCricTime. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "SLC approves termination of Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking". CricBuzz. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Colombo Kings, Dambulla Viiking terminate contracts, withdraw from LPL 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Softlogic Holdings to take ownership of Colombo Franchise for LPL 2021". The Papare. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  10. ↑ LPL denies media reports on dispute with Softlogic NewsWire. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "New York-based SKKY group takes over LPL Colombo franchise". Ada Derana. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Colombo Strikers, Jaffna Kings franchise agreements terminated". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Lanka Premier League receives Indian investment with acquisition of Colombo Kaps franchise". Asian News International. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Vijay Shankar, Jimmy Neesham and Ben McDermott add firepower to LPL 2026". Pakistan Today. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "LPL 2026: Sahibzada Farhan, Shakib Al Hasan among big pre-signings". Geo Super. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Sri Lanka's coaching talent will once again take center stage at LPL 2026". Sri Lanka Sports. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "The wait is officially OVER! The legendary Nuwan Kulasekara is on duty as our Bowling Coach for LPL 2026". Colombo Kaps. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026 – via Facebook.
  18. ↑ Kanishka Sanjeewa (1 June 2026). "Full LPL 2026 Squads Following the Player Draft". ThePapare. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Naman Jain (2 June 2026). "All LPL 2026 squads after Lanka Premier League draft". Inside Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "LPL 2026: Final Squads". Sri Lanka Cricket. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  21. ↑ ESPNcricinfo
  22. ↑ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  23. ↑ "Most career wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  24. ↑ "Best bowling figures in an innings". Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  25. ↑ "BABU88Sports Announces Sponsorship of Colombo Strikers in Lanka Premier League". Business Standard. 3 July 2024.
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