# Colombo Strikers

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. The team was supposed to be coached by former Australian cricketer Dav Whatmore. However he pulled out ahead of the 2020 Lanka Premier League for personal reasons and was replaced by former English cricketer Kabir Ali. 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. In June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League, due to financial issues.
In November 2021, the team changed its name to Colombo Stars after Softlogic Holdings PLC took over the ownership of the franchise. 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. In May 2023, the team changed its name to Colombo Strikers after SKKY Group took over the ownership.

## Seasons

| 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

* Sources: ESPNcricinfo, ThePapare.com
* Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Year signed | Salary (US$) | Notes |
| Batters |||||||||
| | Kavin Bandara | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 5,000 | |
| | Shevon Daniel | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 10,000 | |
| | Nipun Dhananjaya | Sri Lanka | 2023 | Retained | |
| | Muhammad Waseem | United Arab Emirates | 2024 | 20,000 | Overseas |
| All-rounders |||||||||
| | Shehan Fernando | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 5,000 | |
| | Chamika Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 2023 | Retained | |
| | Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 2024 | Direct Signing | Overseas |
| | Angelo Perera | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 20,000 | |
| | Thisara Perera | Sri Lanka | 2024 | Direct Signing | Captain |
| | Glenn Phillips | New Zealand | 2024 | Direct Signing | Overseas |
| | Dunith Wellalage | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 50,000 | |
| Wicket-keepers |||||||||
| | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas |
| | Sadeera Samarawickrama | Sri Lanka | 2024 | Direct Signing | |
| Spin bowlers |||||||||
| | Allah Ghazanfar | Afghanistan | 2024 | 10,000 | Overseas |
| Pace bowlers |||||||||
| | Taskin Ahmed | Bangladesh | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas |
| | Binura Fernando | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 55,000 | |
| | Chamika Gunasekara | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 10,000 | |
| | Matheesha Pathirana | Sri Lanka | 2023 | 120,000 | |
| | Garuka Sanketh | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 13,000 | |
| | Isitha Wijesundara | Sri Lanka | 2024 | 5,000 | |

## Administration and support staff

| Position | Name |
| Head Coach | Carl Crowe |
| Bowling Coach | Chaminda Vaas |
| Assistant Coach | 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 | 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

## 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 | Angelo Mathews | Galle Gladiators | R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 12 December 2021 |
| Source: Cricinfo |||||

### 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

### 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 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 14 December 2022 |
| 4/20 | Kasun Rajitha | Kandy Falcons | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 22 December 2022 |
| 4/35 | Dushmantha Chameera | Kandy Warriors | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 14 December 2021 |
| 3/24 | Matheesha Pathirana | Kandy Warriors | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 31 July 2023 |
| 3/17 | Benny Howell | Galle Gladiators | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 21 December 2022 |
* Source: CricInfo

## Kit manufacturers and sponsors

| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Chest branding |
| 2020 | Moose Clothing | | | |
| 2021 | | Softlogic Holdings | Softlogic Holdings | |
| 2022 | | MazaPlay | MazaPlay | Softlogic Holdings |
| 2023 | | Kheloyar | 1xBook | |
| 2024 | | Babu88 Sports | Zetto Sports | Oateo |