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Mizo Amin ruled out of Qatar’s opening 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier

Doha: Shooting guard Mohamed Hassan Mohamed will miss Qatar’s opening 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier against Kazakhstan here on Friday after he fractured his nose at a practice session on Tuesday.

After the initial medical examination, Mohamed, popularly known as ‘Mizo Amin’, was ruled out of the opening match at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Stadium.

Mizo also had injury worries during the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon in July. Sammy Monroe, another important player, didn’t figure in any match which dealt a huge blow to Qatar’s chances to finish 13th in the tournament.

However, Qatar’s new coach Tim Lewis exuded confidence.

“There is an opportunity in the group for us to move forward. It will eventually come down to how we commit to what I am trying to put out for them,” said the Briton.

After tomorrow’s match, Qatar will fly to Tehran where they meet Asian Cup runners-up Iran on November 27.

“Iran are one of the top teams in the world. They’re a progressive nation and the sport has really blossomed there. It is one of the tough teams you have got to compete with in Asia. They played in the FIBA Asia Cup finals,” he added.

The team's first round campaign in the tournament, played on a home-away format, will end in February, 2018 with a game against Iraq, who had beaten them at the Asia Cup.

The World Cup qualification of the Asia Zone will determine the six teams from FIBA Asia and/or FIBA Oceania that will participate at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.  

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