Wayanad, January 30: After decent performances in the unofficial one-dayers, opener Lokesh Rahul was on Wednesday picked in the India A team for the first of the two four-day games against England Lions, starting here on February 7. According to a BCCI statement, Ankit Bawne was named skipper of the 14-man squad that comprises the likes of pacer Shardul Thakur, who failed to complete his first over in Test cricket against the West Indies after suffering a right adductor tendon injury.

Rahul, who recently came off a suspension along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya for their allegedly sexist comments on a television show, is likely to open the innings for the India A side along with Abhimanyu Easwaran. The squad also comprises Shahbaz Nadeem, Priyank Panchal, K.S.Bharat, Siddhesh Lad and Ricky Bhui. KL Rahul Named In India A Squad for the First 4-Day Game Against England Lions.

The four-day matches will follow the five-match unofficial one-dayers in which the India A side has take a 4-0 lead in the four matches played so far. The fifth and final one-dayer will be played in Thiruvananthapuram.

India A squad for 1st four-day game: Ankit Bawne (Captain), Lokesh Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Priyank Panchal, Ricky Bhui, Siddhesh Lad, K.S. Bharat (WK), Jalaj Saxena, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mayank Markande, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Varun Aaron.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2019 07:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).