The national selectors rewarded Zaheer Khan [Images] for consistency by including him in the 15-member squad, named on Sunday, for the five One-Day Internationals against Pakistan.

Zaheer, who missed India's last two one-day series, replaced Railways' J P Yadav in the only change from the squad that drew 2-2 with South Africa in November 2005.

The left-arm Baroda paceman impressed in the second Test against Pakistan on a flat track and will now stay on for the one-dayers, the first of which begins in Peshawar on February 6.

"We decided to retain the combination that played against Sri Lanka and South Africa. This is the best team that we have chosen," Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters after announcing the team.

Out-of-favour Sourav Ganguly [Images], who was dropped from the one-day squad last year and also stripped of his captaincy, found himself ignored again.

Currently playing in the third Test, Ganguly will take the flight home along with Parthiv Patel, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble [Images] and Wasim Jaffer [Images] next week after the Karachi match ends.

Shah said Ganguly's name was discussed by the selection committee, headed by Kiran More, but eventually it was decided to retain the winning combination.

Asked if the one-day careers of Ganguly, Laxman and Kumble were as good as over, Shah refused to elaborate, saying "it is not the case".

He also justified packing the squad with five fast bowlers in Zaheer, Irfan Pathan [Images], Ajit Agarkar [Images], R P Singh and S Sreesanth [Images].

"We decided to go in with five fast bowlers considering the wickets in Pakistan," he said.

Shah brushed aside any injury scare over Kerala [Images] speedster Sreesanth and said team physio John Gloster had cleared the bowler who has no fitness problems now.

However, VRV Singh and Ashish Nehra are still to recover from their injuries, he added.

"VRV and Nehra were discussed but the duo was ruled out due to fitness concerns."

India, who had defeated Pakistan 3-2 in the ODI series in 2004, are slated to play matches at Peshawar (Feb 6), Rawalpindi (Feb 11), Lahore [Images] (Feb 13), Multan (Feb 16) and Karachi (Feb 19).

The squad: Rahul Dravid [Images] (captain), Sachin Tendulkar [Images], Virender Sehwag [Images], Yuvraj Singh [Images], Mohd Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images], Gautam Gambhir [Images], Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, R P Singh, Murali Kartik [Images], Harbhajan Singh [Images], S Sreesanth.