Cricket's history in Portugal traces back to the Peninsular War era, marked by the encampment of Wellington's British troops in Lisbon.

The longstanding annual match between teams from Oporto and Lisbon, played almost every year since 1861, attests to the rich tradition within the Portuguese cricket establishment. Tradition holds significant importance in cricket, and administrators in Portugal are committed to preserving these traditions that define the essence of the game.

However, tradition has also been a factor in cricket's limited development in Portugal. Once viewed primarily as a sport with strong English associations, cricket largely remained the preserve of a small group of expatriates and descendants of British families with deep roots in Portugal. While it did attract some notable local enthusiasts, cricket lacked the necessary momentum for broader development.

To advance cricket in Portugal, broadening the game's appeal was crucial, yet it was equally important to uphold the traditions of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. Ironically, cricket in Portugal experienced a significant boost following the 1974 Revolution, when former Portuguese territories in Africa and the East gained independence. This political shift led to a wave of Portuguese nationals moving to metropolitan Portugal, many of whom had learned cricket in regions like Goa (India) and Mozambique. Furthermore, the relocation of many Portuguese expatriates from Angola and Mozambique to Rhodesia and South Africa introduced their children to the local sports culture, acquainting them with cricket's intricacies and traditions. The ensuing socio-political changes in these countries further spurred the migration to Portugal of individuals with a well-established passion and understanding of cricket.

Portugal made its international cricket debut in 1992, competing against Spain for the Iberia Cup at Barrington's sports facility in the Algarve. The Associação Cricket de Portugal was established on 19 June 1994 and received Affiliate Membership from the ICC in 1996. Subsequently, on 29 March 2001, the Federação Portuguesa de Cricket was founded, achieving ICC Associate status in 2019.

Portugal achieved victory in the ECF (European Cricket Federation) Championship in 1995, secured 2^nd place in 1996, and placed 4^th in 1997. In the inaugural ECC Trophy in Corfu, Greece in 1999, the national team finished as runners-up to Greece. Receiving an invitation to participate in the ECC European Championships in Scotland in July 2000, alongside the European ICC Associates, was both an honor and a testament to the skill of Portugal's cricketers. The team upheld their reputation admirably, securing victories over Greece and Israel, and only narrowly losing to Gibraltar, France, and Germany.

The 2001 ECC Trophy in Austria offered the Portuguese national team a chance to solidify their leading status in European cricket. With decisive victories over Sweden, Spain, Finland, and Malta in the group stages, Portugal advanced to the semi-final against Belgium as the clear favorites. Belgium was the only team able to limit Portugal to under 200 runs in their allotted 35 overs. However, the consistent excellence of Portugal's bowling and their determined fielding propelled them to the final with a 10-run victory. In the final, Portugal achieved a 9-wicket triumph over the host nation, Austria, clinching the coveted Trophy. This victory also earned them an invitation to the ECC Division 2 Championships in Northern Ireland in 2002, where Portugal emerged victorious against Israel, Gibraltar, and Austria, securing a 3^rd place finish.

Competing in the 2003 ECC Trophy, Portugal faced setbacks in the group stage with losses to Malta and Finland. However, the national team rebounded impressively in the playoffs, securing wins against Switzerland, Finland, and Belgium to achieve a 5^th place finish. In the 2005 ECC Division 3 tournament in Belgium, Portugal maintained consistency by finishing in 5^th position once again. Returning to Belgium in 2007, the team encountered challenges in the group stage, losing to Finland and Croatia, but managed to secure a victory over Cyprus, ultimately finishing in a disappointing 6^th place.

Participating in the 2009 Division 3 tournament in La Manga, Spain, Portugal secured a 5^th place finish, achieving a solitary victory against Spain. In the 2011 Division 2 T20 tournament in Belgium, the national team recorded wins over Cyprus and Finland during the group stages. However, Portugal faced defeat against Belgium in the semi-final and lost to the Isle of Man in the placement match, ultimately securing a 4^th place finish.

In the 2012 Division 2 competition in Corfu, Greece, Portugal achieved victories against Luxembourg, Estonia, and Malta, but faced defeats to Spain and Israel during the group stage. In the placement matches, the national team secured a win against Estonia but was overcome by Finland, concluding the tournament in 7^th place.

Portugal was absent from European tournaments from 2013 to 2017, a hiatus resulting from the ICC Europe's tournaments restructure. In 2018, the national team took part in an 18-team Regional T20 Knock-Out tournament in the Netherlands. The team secured a victory against Cyprus but encountered defeats against Austria, Denmark, France, and Germany, ultimately finishing in 5^th place in Group A.

In 2019, Portugal competed in four T20 internationals during the Iberian Cup against Spain and Gibraltar. The team triumphed in both matches against Gibraltar but was defeated in the two games against Spain, resulting in a placement of 63^rd in the ICC rankings.

After missing the 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier due to the Covid pandemic, Portugal hosted and triumphed in a T20 international triangular series against Malta and Gibraltar in August 2021, securing a convincing victory.

In 2022, Portugal competed in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier C, facing Spain, Israel, and Malta during the group phase and losing only to Spain. Advancing to the semi-final, they overcame Belgium but were defeated by Denmark in the final. This marked a significant improvement from their performance in the 2018 Qualifier, culminating in a 45^th place in the ICC rankings.

In April 2023, Portugal hosted and won a bilateral T20 international series against Gibraltar. Following this victory, in May 2023, Portugal successfully took part in the triangular Elliot Cup T20 international in Gibraltar, competing against Gibraltar and Malta. This participation led to Portugal being ranked 39^th in the ICC T20 international rankings.

In June 2024, Portugal participated in the ICC World Cup Qualifier Europe A, held in Italy. The group included Austria, France, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania. The group was divided into 2 pools and Portugal was in pool B with Austria, Israel, Hungary and Romania. Portugal started off well by beating Hungary, but then lost successive games to Romania, Austria, and Israel, finishing 4th in the group. Portugal played Isle of Man in a play-off for 5th place, which they won convincingly. As a result of this peformance Portugal's T20i ranking fell from 36 to 43 in the world.

Throughout the years, Portugal has emerged as formidable competitors in the six-a-side indoor cricket variant known locally as 'Cricket de Salão'. The team has clinched three ECC Indoor Championships, secured runner-up positions against Denmark twice, and only once did they finish outside the top three, landing in 4^th place. As underdogs, the Portuguese team triumphed in Versailles, France, in February 1998, and replicated their success the following year in Mechelen, Belgium. In 1999, in Spain, the national squad were bested in the semi-final by the eventual champions, the Netherlands, making their victory against the Dutch in the 2001 final in Mafra all the more gratifying. The 2002 quarter-finals in Mechelen saw Portugal defeated by Ireland. In 2003, despite a challenging start in Herning, Denmark, Portugal rallied to finish as runners-up to Denmark. The team encountered similar challenges in 2004 in Schiedam, the Netherlands, but managed to secure 3^rd place, a feat Portugal repeated in 2005 in Herning and in 2006 at Lord's in London, England. In 2008, in Kuartame, Finland, a last-ball defeat to Denmark denied them the championship. Notably, Portuguese players were awarded the man-of-the-match in 1998, 1999, and 2008, with the accolade of man of the final also in 1999.