Mumbai, February 12:

Indian cricket selectors placed faith in out-of-form players Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan on Monday by including them in the 15-member squad for the World Cup.

Aggressive batsman Sehwag and pace bowler Pathan have missed several limited-overs internationals since they were dropped from the team due to their dismal performance on the recent tour of South Africa.

The national selectors decided to bank on experience instead of trying untested cricketers, although both Sehwag and Pathan have not sparkled in the few chances given to them during the run-up to the World Cup squad selection. “It’s a huge event and experience does count in crunch situations,” chief selector and former Test captain Dilip Vengsarkar told reporters after the selection panel’s meeting.

Vengsarkar said Sehwag would continue to be fielded in the middle order, which was his original position before he was elevated to the opening position and proved to be immensely successful over the past four years.

Indian skipper Rahul Dravid said Sehwag had played in different positions during his career. “Sehwag possesses the ability to adapt and play in different conditions,” Dravid said. “The onus is now on Sehwag as the selectors have shown faith in his ability. It’s not just Sehwag, all picked in the team have to justify the faith reposed in them,” said Dravid.

Featuring in the squad are former captains Sachin Tendulkar, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup, and Sourav Ganguly.

WC SQUADS — INDIA: Rahul Dravid (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthick, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Munaf Patel. Coach: Greg Chappell.

SRI LANKA: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara. Coach: Tom Moody.