Afghanistan cricket coach Kabir Khan is backing his team to clinch back-to-back wins over Kenya in Sharjah on Wednesday and Friday and seal direct qualification for a maiden outing at the World Cup.

“It is very important for us to qualify directly, otherwise there would be extra pressure on the boys to go to New Zealand for another round of qualification,” said Khan, a former Pakistan Test fast bowler.

“We want to qualify directly and start preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup,” being played in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

Khan was confident Afghanistan would perform well in the do-or-die matches against Kenya because of the constant pressure they had faced, after winning only three of the opening eight matches.

“Since I joined about 18 months ago, we knew that we had to win all remaining matches to qualify directly to the ICC Cricket World Cup.

“The pressure has been there since the beginning and the boys are used to it.”

With 15 points from 12 matches, Afghanistan are fourth in the eight-team World Cricket League.

Leaders Ireland, with 24 points, have already secured their place in 2015, leaving the United Arab Emirates (18 points) and Afghanistan as the only teams still able to grab the second and final automatic qualifying spot.

The UAE on Sunday defeated Namibia by 135 runs in their last group game to move into second spot and eliminate third-placed Netherlands (also 18 points) from direct qualification having won more matches.

Afghanistan must beat Kenya in their remaining internationals on October 2 and 4 for maximum points to seize second spot.

While the top two sides qualify automatically for 2015, the bottom six League teams receive a second chance at next year’s qualifier in New Zealand, when they play Hong Kong, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Uganda for the final two spots in the flagship 50-over tournament.