Afghanistan can cause upsets - Akram Khan

Celebrations in Kabul after Afghanistan's first-ever qualification to the 2015 World Cup evoked memories of the scenes in Dhaka and the rest of Bangladesh when they won the ICC Trophy in 1997 to qualify for the 1999 World Cup.

It's a doorway to international exposure and more, but there are several pitfalls to be avoided, said Akram Khan, who led Bangladesh in the 1997 ICC Trophy triumph, and played a pivotal role in its transition to the biggest stage.

"One achievement can create a lot of goals," Akram told ESPNcricinfo. "After we qualified for the 1999 World Cup, I said that my dream was to beat Pakistan. And we did it. Having seen some of the Afghanistan players in Dhaka this year, I am sure they will upset a few teams. They deserve qualification to the 2015 World Cup."