TEHRAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - Seasoned international player Arsalan Kazemi is optimistic about Iran's odds of doing very well in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asia Qualifiers.

Iran were drawn in Asia's Group D with fellow West Asia team Iraq, Gulf champions Qatar and highest ranked Central Asia team Kazakhstan. Iran is the highest ranked team in this group and they are the only team to have ever won a FIBA Asia title here. These facts further underscore how they are expected to not only survive, but more so thrive in the first phase of qualifying games for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Kazemi, who has been a fixture on Iran's men's team since 2010, knows this, and it fuels his confidence that Team Melli will dominate the competition as long as they have their usual level of preparations.

"I'm sure if we have a good preparation before the qualifiers, we will finish on top of our group," he declared.

He is aware of how all the three other Group D teams play, and he believes this familiarity will help him and his teammates notch those all important wins.

"We are playing with 3 teams that in the recent years have been playing a different type of basketball," he explained. "Qatar likes the half court game, Iraq has been improving the last couple of years and likes to play a fast pace and Kazakhstan plays very physical basketball."

Iran will open their qualifiers on 24 November 2017 on the road against neighboring Iraq. Team Melli, which is being handled by Mehran Hatami, will be bannered by Kazemi and Asia's preeminent center Hamed Haddadi. They will be surrounded by some the most talented young players of their country, who are expected to be at their prime for the World Cup.

"I think our young guys have had a very good experience in the past couple of years," Kazemi said. "They have got the talent, and they just have to bring it all to the table."

"Personally, I have good faith in our young players."Arsalan KazemiArsalan Kazemi

After playing Iraq, Iran will be hosting Qatar on 27 November. Kazemi is looking forward to that as they will be playing in front of their raucous home crowd.

"Playing in front of our home crowd will be great, and we saw that last year when we hosted the FIBA Asia Challenge," he said. "It will be great for the people to come and support the national team like that every year."

Iran captured the crown at the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016 after defeating continental rivals Korea.

The first phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asia Qualifiers has four groups of four teams, and three will advance from each group to the next stage.

Iran will try to bag one of the 7 Asian slots to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.

FIBA