Defending champions West Indies will begin their title defense against 2018 ICC Under 19 World Cup host New Zealand in Tauranga on January 13, the opening day of the tournament.

The event which is being contested by 16 teams has been divided into four groups consisting of 4 teams.

The young West Indians have been placed in Group A where they will also face South Africa and African qualifier, Kenya. They are also scheduled to play warm up matches Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe respectively.

Beaten 2016 finalist India head Group B which includes Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea and Australia who pulled out of the previous edition in Bangladesh due to security concerns.

Bangladesh, who were semi-finalists in 2016, will compete with England, Namibia and Canada in Group C.

Two-time champions Pakistan and 2016 semi-finalists Sri Lanka are in Group D with Afghanistan and Ireland.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super League, while the remaining eight teams will feature in the Plate competition which will run simultaneously but end with the final at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Christchurch on January 28.

The ICC U19 World Cup final will be played at the Bay Oval in Tauranga on February 3.