Cricket in Portugal commenced during the Peninsular War with British troops encamped in Lisbon. Oporto and Lisbon have played a game since 1861, which is actually older than the Ashes and the oldest established cup competition in Europe. The Carnation revolution brought the Portuguese from Goa thereby bringing cricket along with them.
Ranked 52 in the ICC T20I rankings, Portugal became an ICC member in 1996 and first played international cricket a year later. Portugal will field a host of players with valuable experience from three ECN events in the past two years and will be keen to showcase their skills to a global audience.
PORTUGAL (POR)
Captain: Najjam Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Francoise Stoman
Projected Top Order: Azhar Andani, Sharn Gomez, Amir Zaib, Anthony Chambers
Projected Opening Bowlers: Junaid Khan, Najjam Shahzad
Spin Options: Md Siraj Nipo, Amandeep Singh
PORTUGAL Key Players:
Najjam Shahzad, star all-rounder, dependable batsman who can anchor the innings very well, third highest scorer for POR with 56 runs in six knocks. He also picked up SIX wickets.
Amir Zaib, another valuable all-rounder with vast ECN experience. Top scorer for Portugal racking up 123 runs in six matches. Has also picked up SIX wickets with the ball.
Junaid Khan, very good with the bat and equally sharp with the ball, the left arm quick has looked lethal with the ball both at the start and in the death overs, joint top wicket taker for POR picking up EIGHT wickets in six games with a best return of 3-10 vs NED XI.
Sharn Gomez, classy left handed batsman, second highest run scorer for POR racking up 88 runs in six games.
Imran Khan, all-rounder, hasn’t fired with the bat but has been exceptionally well with the ball leading the wicket taking charts alongside Junaid Khan scalping EIGHT wickets in six games.
