Former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques has been appointed captain of Portugal's national cricket team as they launch their bid to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup for the first time.

The Portuguese Cricket Federation confirmed the 14-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C, scheduled to take place in Finland from August 14 to 20. Henriques will lead the team as they look to make history on the international stage.

Return to His Roots

Born in Funchal, Madeira—the same hometown as Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo—Henriques moved to Australia as a child and went on to build a distinguished international career in green and gold. The 37-year-old represented Australia in four Tests, 16 ODIs, and 24 T20Is between 2009 and 2021.

Henriques became eligible to represent Portugal in June after completing the International Cricket Council's mandatory three-year cooling-off period for players switching from an ICC Full Member nation to an Associate member. His last appearance for Australia came in a T20I against Bangladesh in August 2021.

Having announced his retirement from Australian domestic cricket last month, Henriques remains active in franchise cricket worldwide, including a deal with Glasgow Cosmic for the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League.

Road to the 2028 T20 World Cup

Portugal, currently ranked 37th in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings, have been drawn in Group B of Qualifier C alongside Israel, Germany, Greece, and Czechia. The group winner will advance to play the winner of Group A in the final on August 21.

The champion of the sub-regional qualifier will earn a spot in the European Regional Final, joining Scotland, Jersey, and Denmark. The top two sides from that stage will subsequently secure places in the Global Qualifier in pursuit of a berth at the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Experienced Lineup

Henriques takes over the captaincy duties from Carlos Nunes, who plays club cricket for Twickenham in England and remains in the 14-man squad.

The squad also features former Sussex, Auckland, and Wellington wicketkeeper-batter Craig Cachopa, former South Africa 'A' representative Cameron Shekleton, List A cricketer Sebastian de Oliveira, and spinner Siraj Ullah Khadem.

Portugal Squad: Moises Henriques (capt), Craig Cachopa, Edward Fleming, Christopher de Freitas, Rahulkumar Hashu, Siraj Ullah Khadem, Hardeep Khuttan, Jeremy Martins, Dhavalkumar Norotam (wk), Jordan Netto, Carlos Nunes, Sebastian de Oliveira, Upen Shantu, Cameron Shekleton.

Portugal Fixtures (Qualifier C):

• August 14: vs Israel
• August 15: vs Germany
• August 17: vs Greece
• August 20: vs Czechia
• August 21: Final (Subject to qualification)