How is Ex-Australia Cricketer Moises Henriques Eligible to Play for Portugal National Cricket Team?
Moises Henriques, the 39-year-old former Australian all-rounder, is set to represent Portugal in the 2028 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-regional Qualifier C after having completed the ICC's mandatory three-year stand-down period since his last Australia appearance in 2021.
In a significant development for emerging cricket nations, former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques has announced his decision to represent Portugal in the upcoming 2028 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers. The 39-year-old, born in Funchal, Madeira, is poised to make his debut for his birth country in the European Sub-regional Qualifier C, which is scheduled to take place in Finland from August 14-21, 2026. Cricket at Olympics: Qualification Pathway Confirmed by ICC for LA28.
How is Moises Henriques Eligible to Play for Portugal?
Henriques' eligibility comes after successfully completing the International Cricket Council's (ICC) mandatory three-year stand-down period, a rule for players transitioning from a Full Member nation to an Associate nation. His last international appearance for Australia was in 2021, paving the way for this exciting new chapter in his career. He follows a similar path to former Australian batter Joe Burns, who successfully led Italy to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup but was subsequently dropped from their squad ahead of the tournament.
A New Challenge and Global Growth
Henriques, who has played 44 international matches for Australia, including 24 T20Is, brings a wealth of experience to the Portuguese squad. Beyond his Portuguese heritage, he emphasized his motivation to contribute to the global expansion of cricket. "The opportunity for growth in the game around the world, it's probably not just my Portuguese heritage, but the game, more importantly, and the opportunity for growth worldwide," Henriques told CODE Sports. He also highlighted the pride his family in Portugal feels about his decision.
Currently, Henriques remains active as the captain of the Sydney Sixers in Australia's Big Bash League. His presence is expected to provide a significant boost to Portugal's aspirations of qualifying for the 2028 T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2026 11:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
