Tendulkar, Zaheer back in ODI squad

Chennai, Jan 15 (IBNS) Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan were picked in the ODI squad for the first time since the 2011 World Cup while left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan, who made his comeback in international cricket last month after two years, also finds a place in the 17-member squad for the two Twenty20 internationals against Australia and the subsequent triangular series involving Sri Lanka.

Medium pacer Praveen Kumar, who missed the Tests due to a rib injury, finds his way back in the squad announced on Sunday by the selection committee.

Praveen Kumar, the India medium-pacer who missed the Tests due to a fractured rib, will join the squad for the ODIs.

Ishant Sharma, who is a part of the Test squad, has been left out while Umesh Yadav and R.Vinay Kumar found a place.

Rahul Sharma, the legspinner who impressed during the series against West Indies, has been picked to be the second spinner alongside R Ashwin. Manoj Tiwary scored his maiden ODI hundred in the fifth ODI against West Indies and is part of the squad again.

Despite a poor run with his bat, Parthiv Patel has been picked as the reserve wicketkeeper.

Yuvraj Singh and Harbahajan Singh were ignored again. While Harbhajan failed to impress the selectors in Ranji Trophy matches, Yuvraj is yet to recover from his non-malignant tumour in lungs.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain-wicketkeeper), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Parthiv Patel (wicketkeeper), Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan, R Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar