Moises Henriques to Captain Portugal National Cricket Team in T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Veteran all-rounder Moises Henriques, born on February 1, 1987, and now 39 years old, is poised to make a remarkable return to international cricket, taking the helm of the Portugal national team in their quest for a place in the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup. His appointment as captain for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-regional Qualifier C, hosted in Finland, follows his recent retirement from Australian domestic cricket, announced just last month in July 2026. Afghanistan Secure Direct Qualification for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027; West Indies to Play in Qualifiers.

Moises Henriques' Historic Switch

Henriques, a Portuguese-Australian who was born in Funchal, Madeira, last represented Australia internationally in 2021. His eligibility to play for his birth nation comes after completing the International Cricket Council's mandatory three-year stand-down period for players transitioning from a Full Member nation to an Associate nation. This move allows him to leverage his extensive experience, which includes 44 international appearances for Australia across Tests, One-Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals.

His decorated career in Australian domestic and franchise cricket saw him clinch 11 major titles, including leading the Sydney Sixers to multiple Big Bash League championships and being a key part of Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL 2016 triumph.

The Road to 2028: Portugal's Campaign in Finland

Portugal's journey in the 2028 T20 World Cup qualification process begins with the European Sub-regional Qualifier C. The tournament is scheduled to take place from August 14 to August 21, 2026, across two venues in Finland: the Kerava National Cricket Ground in Kerava and the Tikkurila Sports Park Cricket Ground in Vantaa.

Portugal will compete against a challenging lineup of European associate nations as they aim to advance to the regional final. Their confirmed opponents in this sub-regional stage include the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, and Israel.

Here's a look at Portugal's initial fixtures:

Henriques' decision to represent Portugal underscores a growing trend of established cricketers contributing to the development of the game in emerging nations, a move he believes will foster greater global participation and strengthen future ICC tournaments. His leadership will undoubtedly be a significant boost for Portugal as they embark on this crucial qualification campaign.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 11, 2026 03:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).