Moises Henriques Aims for Cricket Nirvana with Portugal's T20 World Cup Bid
Moises Henriques, a former Australian international, aspires to lead Portugal to their first-ever men's T20 World Cup, describing the achievement as cricket "nirvana" in the twilight of his career. The 39-year-old, who has previously represented Australia in four Tests, 16 one-day internationals, and 24 T20s from 2009 to 2021, has switched allegiances to his birthplace and will captain the Portuguese team in a European sub-regional qualifying tournament in Finland starting Friday. Henriques remarked on Portugal's cricketing journey, stating, "I didn't even know Portugal had a cricket team until five years ago," but expressed admiration for the squad's quality. He aims to replicate Italy's success, who recently made their T20 World Cup debut, although he remains uncertain about Portugal's chances in the upcoming tournament. Born in Funchal, Madeira, Henriques moved to Sydney at age two. He shared that cricket provided him with confidence during his childhood, stating, "Cricket gave me that little bit of confidence I probably needed as a kid to feel a part of something." Portugal, currently ranked 37th in the world, faces a challenging group including Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, and Israel. If they advance, they will compete against teams like Scotland, Jersey, and Denmark next year in the final regional qualifiers. Henriques, who will also play for Glasgow Cosmic in the inaugural European T20 Premier League, noted the impressive backgrounds of several teammates, including Cameron Shekleton and Craig Cachopa. He anticipates challenges ahead, particularly adapting to synthetic pitches after decades of playing on natural grass. He hopes to positively impact the growth of cricket in Portugal and Europe, feeling a deep connection to his heritage as he dons the national colors. "I'm representing the motherland, so to speak, and it's going to feel somewhat similar," he said.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-08-13