Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien admits his side has been handed “a very tough draw” in the qualifying tournament for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Ireland will face the West Indies, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and the winners of World Cricket League Division 2 in Group A of the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which takes place between 4-25 March.

The top three teams in each of the two pools progress to the Super Six stage of the competition, with the leading two teams from the Super Sixes qualifying for the 10-team 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

"It's a very tough draw, but so is the other group so either way it would have been difficult,” Leinster Lightning all-rounder O’Brien said.

“I expect all the games in the group to be very close, as all the teams are fairly evenly matched.”

Ireland open their Group A campaign against the Netherlands on 4 March, but their toughest challenge is likely to come against the West Indies on 10 March.

Jason Holder’s side failed to secure one of the eight automatic qualifying places for the World Cup after dropping to ninth in the world rankings ahead of the cut-off date of 30 September 2017.

Ireland beat the Windies in their opening match of the 2015 World Cup, and skipper William Porterfield says the squad will take heart from that emphatic four-wicket win in Nelson.

“We have a good record against the West Indies, beating them in the 2015 World Cup, so we will take confidence from that,” the 33-year-old said.

But Porterfield, who was released by county side Warwickshire in September 2017, says Ireland won’t underestimate the threat posed by Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands.

Papua New Guinea beat Porterfield’s side at the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast in July 2015, ending Ireland’s run of 21 consecutive wins in ICC qualifiers.

The Dutch have beaten Ireland in their last three Twenty20 internationals, and Ryan Campbell’s squad has been bolstered by the return of Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, 37, after a six-year absence.

"It is going to be a really hard-fought tournament with nearly all the sides in with a genuine chance of qualification," Porterfield continued.

"The Netherlands have got some big players back in recent times, so they will be tough, while Papua New Guinea are improving all the time."

During the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Ireland players repeatedly expressed their unhappiness at the ICC’s decision to cut the number of teams at the 2019 World Cup from 14 to 10.

And O’Brien, who holds the record for the fastest century in World Cup history with his 50-ball ton against England in 2011, again questioned the ICC vote to cut the number of teams at the sport’s showpiece event.

"The World Cup Qualifier is a huge tournament for all ten teams, but it is is extremely disappointing that there are only two places up for grabs for the 2019 World Cup,” the 33-year-old added.

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2018

Group A: West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, ICC World Cricket League Division 2 winners.

Group B: Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong, ICC World Cricket League Division 2 runners-up.