BEIRUT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asia Qualifiers) - The legend that is Fadi El Khatib is no longer in Lebanon's national team but the passion that surrounds the Cedars remains and will be evident when the side hosts India on November 23 in the team's first FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asia Qualifier.

That is the firm belief of veteran forward Bassel Bawji, a player that is sure to take on more of a leadership role now that the Lebanese Tiger has brought an end to his international career.

"Fadi is an icon, a legend," Bawji said to FIBA.basketball. "He did a lot for the team, for Lebanon. Hats off to him.

"For now, the next generation, we have a lot of good players. Excellent balance. We can score, play defense, we can play a new age basketball. When no one scores more than 20 points, it will be hard for the defense. It's going to be a different game, a good challenge with a different team."

In addition to facing India in the first window, Lebanon will square off against rivals Jordan in Amman on November 26. Their first game against Group C's other team, Syria, will not be until the second of the six World Cup Qualifiers windows on February 23.

I think this (new system of competition) is the right way to do it because it keeps fans excited for the national team throughout the year and not only during the summer time.BawjiBawji

Bawji and his teammates did not get the results they craved when hosting the FIBA Asia Cup this summer, although they did have terrific spells of play in front of raucous crowds. Rather than dwell on the fact that Lebanon came in sixth and not in the top three, Bawji says the team can draw important lessons that will help it in the World Cup Qualifiers.

"It was a good test for us," he said. "Now we know our weaknesses, our strengths. It was a good preparation and now we know we what need to work on to get to the next level. It's not going to get any easier. The competition is going to get tougher. We have a lot of work to do to get ready for the World Cup Qualifiers."

The fact that Lebanon have important games coming up gives the players and the fans an opportunity to get rid of a lingering FIBA Asia Cup hangover, one that started with an 80-70 defeat to Iran in the Quarter-Finals.

Wael Arakji is one reason why fans are upbeat about Lebanon's chances

"I think this (new system of competition) is the right way to do it because it keeps fans excited for the national team throughout the year and not only during the summer time," he said. "The fans can stay on their toes. We believe the national team is the main team, not the club. The club is a business but the national team is no business. It's just a presentation for our pride.

"We can't wait to get our revenge on our home court, for these awesome fans," Bawji said. "They were with us from Day 1. We disappointed them. At the end of the day, there is one winner, one loser. We had a bad game against Iran. We can't wait to go get back in for our fans."

Bawji also likes the fact that he will get a summer off from national team duty every four years.

FIBA's new competition system puts players first by reducing their workload, with the average reduction worldwide measured at 26% and the figure increasing to 38% for the Asian region alone.

The new format brings with it a significant scaling down of the preparation time required for qualifying games but at the same time presents players, national teams and national federations with the great opportunity of having official games more regularly throughout the year.

"As a player, you get better in the off season," he said. "So you do need summers where you rest and then work on your physical conditioning and then your skills as a player. As a player you do need some time to recuperate individually."

FIBA