Bermuda assistant cricket coach Clay Smith has warned the Islanders not to take anything for granted against "unknown" opponents Afghanistan who qualified for April's World Cup qualifiers in South Africa over the weekend.

The Asians beat Cayman Islands by 82 runs to clinch the World Cricket League (WCL) Division Three Tournament in Argentina to set up an April 2 World Cup qualifying showdown with Bermuda in Johannesburg.

"You can't take anybody for granted in cricket today because the game is played on the pitch and I am sure Afghanistan will be trying their best to secure at least one victory (in South Africa) against one of the top teams (Associates), which to them will be a significant achievement," Smith told The Royal Gazette.

Afghanistan's rise in world cricket since joining the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001 has been nothing short of meteroic.

Their World Cup qualifying odyssey began last May when they won the WCL Division Five Tournament in Jersey and continued in Tanzania last October where they also captured the WCL Division Four title prior to this month's success in South America.

"You have to give credit where credit is due because Afghanistan beat Cayman Islands who are no pushovers. It just goes to show there are a lot of other teams whose cricket has improved recently," added former Bermuda skipper Smith.

Despite a homeland ravaged by war and a modest cricket infrastructure in place, Afghanistan's dream of reaching the World Cup remains intact – perhaps largely due to last month's training camp at Pakistan's state-of-the-art National Cricket Academy.

And skipper Nowroz Mangal, who blasted 70 off 89 balls against the Caymans over the weekend, remains confident his team can go all the way and fulfil the goal of qualifying for world cricket's premier showpiece.

"To play in the World Cup for the first time is a dream for us," he said.

Smith, however, is confident Bermuda can see off the Asian threat.

"I'm sure without a doubt that Bermuda will be one hundred percent ready for this tournament," he said. "Afghanistan's confidence will obviously be high, but at the same time I think they may be jumping into a pot that's a little hotter than they expect."

Also qualifying for April's World Cup qualifiers in Argentina last week was Uganda who pipped Papua New Guinea on run rate.

The Ugandans have now been placed in Group A along with Scotland, Irelan, Canada, Oman and Namibia.