TEHRAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Iran come into the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers with a 1-1 record and a lesson learned. Veteran leader Arsalan Kazemi said the key to the up-coming games will be first taking care of business then look for some revenge.

Iran dropped their opening game in Group D 74-66 against Iraq in November before bouncing back in strong fashion with a convincing 65-39 victory over Qatar at home.

Next up for Mehran Shahintab's team is a showdown at undefeated group leaders Kazakhstan on February 22 and then a return home leg against Iraq in Tehran on February 25.

The 27-year-old Kazemi warned his compatriots of looking past Kazakhstan in hopes of avenging their loss to Iraq.

"We get to play Iraq again this time at home and I'm sure that will be interesting game and all of our guys are looking forward to that game. But first game is first," he emphasized.

And that is against the talented Kazakhstan team, which enters the February games with a 2-0 record after beating Qatar and Iraq.

"Kazakhstan is a very good team," said Kazemi, who averaged 5.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in the first window. "They play basketball the European style, and they are tough and physical so we have to be ready for them."

"We get to play Iraq again this time at home and I'm sure that will be interesting game and all of our guys are looking forward to that game. But first game is first."Arsalan KazemiArsalan Kazemi

Kazemi, who plays his club basketball with Petrochimi in Iran, said he hopes the Iranians remember what they learned from the first window.

"We have learned that every game is going to be tough and we have to be ready for all the teams," he said. "It's the World Cup Qualifiers and every country wants to play at that stage. So they are going to come ready and we have to be ready too."

FIBA