Former Australia All-Rounder Moises Henriques to Captain Portugal at the T20 World Cup Qualifier
Published on August 11, 2026
Summary Overview: Portugal have named Moises Henriques, the former Australia international, as captain for the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier C 2026 in Finland. Full squad, group and fixtures.
Former Australia All-Rounder Moises Henriques to Captain Portugal at the T20 World Cup Qualifier
By Cricket Daily
Portugal have named their squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Finland, and they have made a real statement with it. Before the detail, here are the quick answers.
Have Portugal announced their squad?
Yes. The Portuguese Cricket Federation has confirmed a 14-player squad for the tournament, which runs in Finland from 14 to 21 August.
Who is captaining Portugal?
Moises Henriques, the 39-year-old former Australia international, who was born in Madeira and now leads Portugal's qualification bid.
What is new about this squad?
Portugal have loaded up on experienced, high-level talent, headlined by Henriques, in a clear push to win the group and go all the way.
When do Portugal play?
They open against Israel on 14 August, then face Germany (15th), Greece (17th) and Czechia (20th) in Group B, with the final on 21 August.
Now, the full picture.
The headline: a former Australia captain-in-waiting leads Portugal
The standout story is Moises Henriques taking the armband. If that name rings a bell, it should. Henriques played 44 times for Australia across all three formats, including four Tests, and had a long, respected domestic career with New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers before his last Australia appearance in 2021.
For anyone new to associate cricket, here is how this works. A player can represent a nation they qualify for through birth or heritage, and Henriques was born in Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal, which makes him eligible. Having recently stepped away from Australian domestic cricket, he is now channelling his experience into Portugal's World Cup dream. As an all-rounder, a player who contributes with both bat and ball, he gives Portugal a genuine match-winner and a leader who has operated at the very top of the game.
An experienced, well-travelled squad
Henriques is not the only man in this squad with a serious CV. Portugal have clearly built a team designed to compete.
Craig Cachopa, a former Sussex, Auckland and Wellington batter, brings years of high-level county and first-class experience. Cameron Shekleton has represented South Africa A, and Sebastian de Oliveira has List A cricket on his record. Add wicketkeeper Dhavalkumar Norotam and a group of committed domestic players, and this is a side with far more pedigree than its ranking suggests. Portugal currently sit 37th in the ICC men's T20I rankings, but squads like this are exactly how emerging nations punch above their weight.
Portugal's group and route
Portugal have been drawn in Group B, which looks the tougher of the two groups, alongside Israel, Germany, Greece and Czechia. To reach the final, they will most likely have to get the better of Germany, one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Their fixtures are: Israel on 14 August, Germany on 15 August, Greece on 17 August and Czechia on 20 August. Win the group, and they go straight into the final on 21 August against the Group A winner. And the stakes could not be higher, because only the overall tournament winner advances to the Europe Regional Final, the next step on the long road to the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
What it means
This is an ambitious, purposeful selection. By handing the captaincy to a player of Henriques' calibre and surrounding him with well-travelled professionals, Portugal have signalled that they are not just making up the numbers in Finland. They want to win it.
Here at Cricket Daily, we tipped Portugal as one of the main challengers in this qualifier, and this squad only strengthens that case. In a winner-takes-all format, experience and nerve matter enormously, and Portugal now have plenty of both. The Group B clash with Germany on 15 August already looks like it could shape the entire tournament.
Keep it locked to Cricket Daily for squad news, results, and full coverage of the road to the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Portugal's squad in full
Moises Henriques (captain), Craig Cachopa, Edward Fleming, Christopher de Freitas, Rahulkumar Hashu, Siraj Ullah Khadem, Hardeep Khuttan, Jeremy Martins, Dhavalkumar Norotam (wicketkeeper), Jordan Netto, Carlos Nunes, Sebastian de Oliveira, Upen Shantu, Cameron Shekleton.
Recent form and head-to-head
Portugal arrive in decent touch. In early July 2026 they got the better of hosts Finland in a five-match T20I series, winning both games that produced a result, by 32 runs in the opener and by 8 runs in the third match, with the other three washed out or abandoned. Beating Finland matters here, because the two could meet again in the final if both top their groups, so it is a handy confidence boost.
Their tournament opener on 14 August is against Israel, and that is a genuine rivalry with recent history. The sides have split their last two meetings: Israel edged a tight one by 2 wickets in 2024, while Portugal won comfortably by 47 runs in 2022. On that evidence, expect their Group B opener to be another close, competitive contest.