BSS, DHAKA: The Bangladesh national cricket team has left the country on Wednesday to play a full series against India for the first time since their elevation as a Test nation in 2000. The series is comprised with three-match T20 Internationals and two-match Test series, with which the Tigers will start their journey in the World Test Champions game.

The first T20 is on November 3 in Delhi while the rest of the two matches are on November 7 and 10 in Rajkot and Nagpur respectively. The first Test is from November 14-18 in Indore while the second and final Test in Kolkata from November 22-26 will be a day-night affair.

The Kolkata Test will be the first pink ball match for both India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh earlier visited India in 2017 but that was only for a solitary Test, which they lost after an epic double century of Virat Kohli.

However Bangladesh left the country at a moment when the whole nation was shocked by the ban of Shakib Al Hasan. The ace all-rounder was set to lead the side in India tour as he was the captain of the team in both T20 and Test format.

Moreover Bangladesh relied heavily on his service in India tour since he has vast knowledge about the country due to play IPL at regular basis.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday banned Shakib for two years, with one year of that suspended, for his failure to report corrupt approaches.

Under the provisions of the Code, Shakib, the Test and T20 captain of Bangladesh chose to admit the three charges brought against him and agreed the sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing.

Subject to him satisfying the conditions in respect of the suspended part of the sanction, he will be free to resume international cricket on 29 October 2020, the ICC said.

But that was a tough pill to swallow for the players, who still remained shocked about the outcome.

”We know how important he is for our team. Maybe he did something wrong but not anything illegal. Our support is with him. We will continue loving him like we did before,” said Mahmudullah Riyad who was appointed as Test captain after Shakib was banned from the cricket.

Riyad admitted without Shakib it would be really tough for them to face of an India side that of late has been in ruthless form, specially at the home.

“They won 11 series in a row at home. They are the No.1 ranked team also. It would be really tough for us,” he added.

But still he banks on the players, who he believes would be motivated enough to show a good performance against India.

“Playing well against India will give you the huge exposure and I think everyone will be motivated by this fact.”