South Africa will face England and India in an expanded seven-team group in the first round of the 2011 World Cup.

The format - two groups of seven teams - was confirmed by the International Cricket Council on Wednesday and England were placed in Group B, with West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Holland also awaiting them.

The new format for the tournament in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which will see the overall number of games reduced from 51 to 49, will take over from the much-criticised structure of the last World Cup which began with four groups of four and progressed to a Super Eight stage.

Draw

Group A

Australia (holders), Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka (co-hosts), Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya

Group B

India (co-hosts), South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh (co-hosts), Ireland, Netherlands

Note: Matches scheduled for February and March 2011