England and Scotland will feature in the opening match of the men's basketball tournament at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games ©Basketball England

England and Scotland will feature in the opening match of the men's basketball tournament at next year's Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast after organisers revealed the schedule for the competition.

The two Pool B rivals are due to clash on April 5, the day after the Opening Ceremony, at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

The first match of the women's event, the Pool B encounter between India and Jamaica, will take place on the same day and will open proceedings at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Australia's women, nicknamed the Opals, will make their entrance at the event on home soil on April 6 when they take on fourth seeds Mozambique in Pool A in Townsville.

Canada and England join Australia and Mozambique in Pool A, while Pool B also includes New Zealand and Malaysia.

The host nation's men's team, called the Boomers, are scheduled to face Commonwealth Games basketball debutants Canada on the same day as their women's side.

Pool A of the men's event also features Nigeria and New Zealand.

India and Cameroon are the other sides in Pool B of the men's competition.

A total of 12 preliminary matches are due to be held in both Cairns and Townsville in both the men's and women's tournaments.

Following the conclusion of the pool stage, the top two teams in Pool A in the two competitions will progress to the semi-finals.

The bottom two nations will join the top Pool B sides for the qualifying finals.

The winners of the qualifying finals will then advance to the semi-final and medal matches scheduled to be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 13 to 15.

"It is an exciting day for all the competing nations and Basketball fans around the world to learn the full match schedule for Gold Coast 2018," Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin said.

"We are delighted that the GC2018 Basketball competition features a diverse range of competing nations from Oceania, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa.

"And it’s fantastic that the event cities of Townsville and Cairns are going to witness world-class basketballers in action, ensuring the benefits of the Games spread far beyond the Gold Coast.

"This will ensure the widest possible engagement and legacy as Basketball makes its second appearance at a Commonwealth Games."