<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie said on Monday the team were excited but aware of the challenges ahead of their fourth-ever Test match beginning in Bangladesh this week.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Ireland have lost all three of their previous Test matches since becoming a full member of the International Cricket Council in 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>They are also scheduled to play two more Test matches against Sri Lanka later this month.</div><div><br></div><div>"(There is) a lot of excitement coming into this week," Balbirnie said ahead of the match starting on Tuesday in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Many in the squad have never played a Test before and the length of the game and the conditions would be challenging, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>"It's certainly very hot out there. It's a new ground for us as a team," Balbirnie said.</div><div><br></div><div>"A lot of our guys have been brought up on white-ball cricket, in T20 cricket. A batter (in Tests) has to set himself to bat for as long as possible. Bowlers have to be as disciplined as possible. That's going to be the biggest challenge."</div><div><br></div><div>Ireland found the preceding 50-over and T20 series against Bangladesh tough going, losing 2-0 and 2-1 respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>The hosts will be without fast bowler Taskin Ahmed for the Test because of a side strain. He has been replaced in the squad by Rejaur Rahman Raja.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh also denied permission to skipper Shakib Al Hasan and his deputy Liton Das to join the Indian Premier League until the end of the Test match.</div><div><br></div><div>"We are playing a full team after a long time. We have a good combination. We are all playing regularly, and in good touch," said all-rounder Mehidy Hasan ahead of the Test. Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>