Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble return to India's squad for a five-match one-day series and Twenty-20 international in South Africa from November 19. Uncapped opener Wasim Jaffer also finds a place in the 16-man squad announced on Monday.
The 28-year-old paceman Zaheer last played a one-day international in Pakistan in February before loss of form and injury saw him slip out of contention. But the left-armer fought his way back with a string of fine performances for Worcestershire in the English county season, where he claimed 78 wickets from 16 games. "Zaheer has improved a lot, he is hungry for success and back in form," chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar told reporters.
Vengsarkar expressed concern over the team's recent slump, which led to their Champions Trophy elimination, but ruled out a shake-up before the World Cup.
Indian semi-final hopes were dashed after Sunday's six-wicket defeat to world champions Australia.
The 36-year-old Anil Kumble's last one-day appearance was in Sri Lanka in August last year, but the experienced leg-spinner has been recalled with next year's World Cup in mind. Kumble is the fifth highest wicket-taker in test history with 533, and India's most successful one-day bowler with 329 wickets.
The 28-year-old Jaffer struck a career-best 212 to help India win a rare test series in West Indies in July and has been chosen for the bouncy pitches in South Africa. The Indian board named injured paceman Ajit Agarkar and batsman Yuvraj Singh in the squad, while fast bowler Vikram Singh and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthick were named as cover.
Agarkar suffered a hairline fracture in his left hand during a Champions Trophy group match against West Indies, while Yuvraj Singh suffered a ligament injury during training on the eve of Sunday's six-wicket Champions Trophy defeat. Agarkar is to undergo a fitness test on November 10, three days before the team's departure.
The series will be played in Johannesburg (November 19), Durban (November 22), Cape Town (November 26), November 29 (Port Elizabeth) and at Centurion (December 3). Johannesburg will stage the Twenty20 tie on December 1.
SQUAD Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Munaf Patel, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Mahendra Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar (pending fitness test) and Yuvraj Singh (pending fitness test).
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