Sweden vs Portugal Preview – T20I 2026 | Statz

1st July 2026

Sweden host Portugal in a T20 International at the Botkyrka Cricket Center in Stockholm on Wednesday, July 2. First ball at 1:30 PM IST (9:00 AM BST). Full head-to-head stats and live projections are available on the Statz fixture page.

Sweden are unranked in the ICC T20I standings but have been in excellent form this season, winning three of four matches at home in June. Portugal sit 40th in the ICC T20I rankings with a rating of 76 but have not played a T20I since April 2025 – a gap of over 14 months heading into this clash.

The Venue

Botkyrka Cricket Center in Stockholm has hosted 16 T20 matches on record. The average first-innings score is 136.1, with an overall match total of 254.5. Teams batting first have won just 38% of decided matches here – a clear advantage for the chasing side.

Pace dominates at this ground. Seamers have claimed 81.6% of wickets at an economy of 6.94, while spinners have taken just 10.1% at 6.96. The pitch is tagged as bowler friendly, with the highest total at the venue sitting at 179 and the lowest at 86.

The most recent match here saw Sweden chase down Finland’s 116/10 to win by 9 wickets on 14 June 2026.

Form and Table

Sweden – P4, W3, L1 (75% win rate this season)

Last 5 results:

Portugal – ICC T20I ranking: 40th (rating 76). No matches this season.

Last 3 results:

Sweden’s recent match sharpness is a major advantage. Four competitive T20Is in June means they have rhythm and combinations settled. Portugal, by contrast, return after a 14-month absence from international cricket and may need time to find their feet.

Head-to-Head

These two sides have never met in T20I cricket (Statz data). This will be a first encounter with no historical H2H record to lean on.

Sweden have played 8 T20 matches at Botkyrka Cricket Center since 2021, winning 4 and losing 4. Imal Zuwak is their leading run scorer at this venue with 160 runs, while Samiullah Rahmani has taken 11 wickets here. Portugal have never played at this ground.

Statz Projections

View full projections on the Statz projections page.

If Sweden bat first:

If Portugal bat first:

The projected first-innings totals of 134.8-137.8 sit right around the venue average of 136.1, showing strong alignment between the model and ground history. Projected match totals of 260-264 come in slightly above the venue average of 254.5, suggesting both sides have enough firepower to push scores a touch higher than the norm.

Competition Season Leaders

Orange Cap – Top 5 Run Scorers (T20I Season):

  1. Karanbir Singh (AUT) – 591 runs (12 innings)
  2. Shimron Hetmyer – 318 runs (9 innings)
  3. Musaddiq Ahmed – 277 runs (5 innings)
  4. Luka Woods – 272 runs (4 innings)
  5. Hamid Shah – 271 runs (7 innings)

Purple Cap – Top 5 Wicket Takers (T20I Season):

  1. Amjad Sher (FIN) – 16 wickets (8 innings)
  2. Bilal Zalmai (AUT) – 15 wickets (12 innings)
  3. Shahid Afridi – 15 wickets (9 innings)
  4. Matthew Humphreys – 14 wickets (7 innings)
  5. Shamar Joseph – 13 wickets (6 innings)

Sweden Season Leaders:

Portugal Season Leaders: No season data available – Portugal have not played in this T20I season.

Predicted XIs

Sweden (based on 14 Jun 2026 vs Finland):

  1. Imal Zuwak (c)
  2. Saeed Ahmed
  3. Ajay Mundra (wk)
  4. Wynand Boshoff
  5. Yatharth Chauhan
  6. Naser Baluch
  7. Samiullah Rahmani
  8. Zabiullah Zahid
  9. Awais Ahmad
  10. Advait Dhabe
  11. Zaid Ahmad

Portugal (based on 09 Apr 2025 vs Norway – prior season):

  1. Jalpesh Vijay
  2. Miguel Machado (wk)
  3. Conrad Greenshields
  4. Sherman Vaz
  5. Amandeep Singh
  6. Najam Shahzad (c)
  7. Juan Henri
  8. Dhavalkumar Norotam
  9. Rahulkumar Hashu
  10. Md Siraj Nipo
  11. Upen Shantu

Note: Portugal’s predicted XI is based on their last match in April 2025. Changes are very likely after a 14-month gap. Check the fixture page for toss and confirmed XIs.

Dream11 Tips – Captain and Vice Captain

Captain: Samiullah Rahmani (SWE) – Projected 124.8 Dream11 points. The all-rounder offers dual value with 20.4 projected runs and 1.64 projected wickets. He has taken 1+ wickets in 100% of his season matches and 2+ in 75%. The standout pick.

Vice Captain: Naser Baluch (SWE) – Projected 100.0 Dream11 points. The left-arm quick is projected for 1.94 wickets per match, with a 100% hit rate for 1+ wickets and 75% for 2+ this season. On a bowler-friendly surface, he is excellent value.

Also consider:

Key Players

Samiullah Rahmani (SWE) – The heartbeat of Sweden’s bowling attack. Eight wickets in four season matches with a 100% hit rate for 1+ wickets and 75% for 2+ wickets. He has taken 11 wickets at Botkyrka Cricket Center overall and offers handy runs lower down the order. Build your bet builder around his wicket lines.

Naser Baluch (SWE) – Joint-leading wicket taker for Sweden this season with 8 in 4 matches. His 100% hit rate for 1+ wickets and 75% for 2+ makes him a reliable proposition on a seam-friendly pitch where 81.6% of wickets have gone to pace.

Saeed Ahmed (SWE) – Sweden’s most consistent batter with a 66.7% hit rate for 20+ runs and 66.7% for 30+ runs this season. He has 84 runs at an average of 28.00 with a high score of 36 across 4 matches.

Wynand Boshoff (SWE) – 82 runs at an average of 20.50 this season with a 50% hit rate for 30+ runs (HS 46). A dependable middle-order presence who can anchor an innings when wickets fall around him.

Conditions

Weather data is not currently available for this venue. Stockholm in early July typically offers mild morning conditions. First ball at 1:30 PM IST (9:00 AM BST) with local time 10:00 AM CEST.

Verdict and Betting Angles

Sweden are the pick. They have recent match sharpness from four T20Is in June, home-ground advantage at Botkyrka, and a settled XI. Portugal have not played a T20I since April 2025 – a 14-month absence that makes match fitness a genuine concern. The Statz model gives Sweden up to a 55.8% win probability when fielding first, and with bat-first sides winning only 38% at this venue, winning the toss and choosing to chase could be decisive.

Live bet365 odds are not currently available for this fixture.

Bet builder angles (explore all options on the Statz Bet Builder):