Jamshedpur, Nov. 5: The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) today announced a 15-member Ranji squad for the first two matches against Madhya Pradesh (from November 23-26) and Jammu & Kashmir (from December 1-4). The team will be led by all-rounder Sumit Panda, who was appointed skipper yesterday.

The team was announced after an hour-long meeting of the selection committee members, comprising Ramesh Saxena, Subroto Das, Chanchal Dutta Gupta and Ashok Paul. Selection convener and BCA secretary B.N. Singh was also present at the meeting convened this evening. The panel said the selection was unanimous.

Selection sub-committee chairman Saxena told The Telegraph that the panel has managed to pick a balanced side which is expected to come good in the matches ahead.

“We have made the team for the future. Now it depends upon the boys of how well they perform,” he added. The team has eight batsmen, three medium-pacers and as many spinners.

The selectors dropped experienced hands, including opener Nikhilesh Ranjan, Tariqur Rahman and wicket-keeper Sunil Kumar. Budding off-spinner Sunny Gupta and Ranchi batsman Mohit Goyal are the new faces on the squad. Patna-based batsman Anant Prakash has made a comeback after more than three years.

“Nikhilesh, Tariqur and Sunil have been tested but have failed to deliver the goods. Since we are making a squad keeping five years in mind, it was necessary to introduce fresh blood,” one of the selectors said. He hoped the team to perform well.

The team comprises Sumit Panda (captain), M.S. Dhoni, Sabbir Hussain, Anant Prakash, Rajiv Kumar, CM Jha, Mohit Goyal, Mihir Diwakar, SS Rao, Ratan Kumar, Satyaprakash, Sunny Gupta, Shahid Khan, Anshuman Raj, S.B. Choubey.