Team captain Abdel Nour and the returning Ibrahim will lead Lebanon at Asian Qualifiers

BEIRUT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Grizzled veteran Jean Abdel Nour serves as team captain even as Lebanon welcome back Ahmad Ibrahim for the Asian Qualifiers.

The 33-year-old Abdel Nour last played at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 for Lebanon, averaging 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He was a prime reason for Lebanon's finishing among the top six teams in that competition, and there is little surprise that he - as the oldest player in the roster - will serve as the Cedars' team captain. Joining him is the returning Ibrahim, who last played for the national team in the FIBA Asia Cup 2015 in Changsha-Hunan. The 1.93m guard was a key player for the Cedars then, and he should be among their top options in the Qualifiers as well, given his versatility at either wing position.

Seven players from Lebanon's Asia Cup 2017 squad were retained for the Asian Qualifiers. Aside from Abdel Nour, coming back are Nadim Souaid, Charles Tabet, Ali Haidar, Bassel Bawji, Ali Mezher and star guard Wael Arakji. Their naturalized player in Beirut earlier this year, Norvel Pelle, will sit out the Qualifiers in lieu of 2.10m Ater James Majok, who saw action at the WABA Championship earlier this year. The 30-year-old Sudan-born center averaged 5.4 points and 8.6 boards in that competition.

Rounding out the roster are 2.06m big man Ali Kanaan, shooter Elie Stephan and young floor general Jad Khalil.

Lebanon are in Group C of the Asian Qualifiers along with India, Jordan and Syria. They host the Young Cagers on 23 November at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex before traveling to Amman to play Jordan at the Prince Hamza Arena on 26 November.

FIBA