Iran will open the third edition of the Atlas Basketball Challenge with a match against Ukraine in Suzhou, China.

The match has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Iran will take part in the competition with 12 players but Team Melli’s big man Hamed Haddadi will miss the competition.

“I already spoke with our coaches and our federation to give me time for rest. After the FIBA Asia Challenge last year, I had an injury and had to rest, but I still needed to play with Sichuan in China. My injury got worse after, and now I need to rest this summer and be ready for the Asia Qualifiers," Haddadi told fiba.com.

The Atlas Challenge sees eight teams competing over six days at the Suzhou Sports Centre and the Dushu Lake Arena.

Iran have been drawn along with FIBA World Cup 2019 hosts China, Ukraine and Belarus in Group A.

Group B consists of Qatar, the U.S., Australia and Lithuania.

Iran, headed by Mehran Hatami, will participate at the tournament as preparation for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.

The FIBA Asia Cup will be held in Lebanon from August 8 to 20.