According to Code Sports, former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques has switched his international allegiance and will represent Portugal in the upcoming T20 World Cup Qualifier in August. The veteran cricketer has decided to restart his international career by playing for the country of his birth.
The 39-year-old has played 44 international matches for Australia, but has not represented the national team since 2021. They will now travel to Finland for the European sub-regional qualifiers, the first step in Portugal’s bid to qualify for the 2028 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Moises Henriques set to represent Portugal after Australia stint
Moises Henriques was born in Portugal before moving to Australia in his childhood. The New South Wales all-rounder is now eligible to represent Portugal after completing the ICC’s mandatory three-year stand-down period for players switching from a Full Member country.
Henriques follows the path taken by former Australia opening batsman Joe Burns, who recently moved to Italy due to his family heritage. If Portugal qualifies, Henriques could represent his birth country at a future T20 World Cup.
The Men’s T20 World Cup will now feature 20 teams, giving more Associate nations the chance to qualify. The move could also benefit Henriques in franchise cricket, as he can now be signed as an associate player instead of a full member at an overseas venue.
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