At the end of his playing career, Moises Henriques feels it would be cricket “nirvana” to help Portugal qualify for their first-ever men’s T20 World Cup. Between 2009 and 2021, Henriques represented Australia in four Test matches, sixteen one-day internationals, and twenty-four Twenty20 matches.
Moises Henriques will lead the team at a European sub-regional qualification competition in Finland from August 14–20 after switching allegiances to Portugal. Born in Funchal on the island of Madeira, the 39-year-old came to Australia at the age of two when his father, Alvaro, made the decision to relocate the family to Sydney. Before accepting a position at a warehouse, where he is still employed today, Alvaro played football in Portugal’s second division.
Moises Henriques Begins New Adventure:
Italy began their campaign at the same level as Portugal and participated in their first T20 World Cup earlier this year. The calibre of Portugal’s team has impressed Henriques, who claimed he “didn’t even know Portugal had a cricket team” until five years ago.
Henriques discussed his ties to Portugal and his goals for the national team in an interview with the BBC Stumped podcast. BBC quotes the cricketer saying, “Helping Portugal qualify for their first-ever men’s T20 World Cup would be cricket nirvana at the twilight of his playing career.”
Portugal’s opponents in Group B of the competition are Israel, Germany, Greece, and the Czech Republic. The overall champion, along with Scotland, Jersey, and Denmark, will go to the European regional final after the group winners advance to the final. Ten teams compete in the tournament, and the victor advances to the regional final in an attempt to qualify for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Portugal is rated 37th globally.
