Rahul Dravid [ Images ] was dropped from the 15-member Indian one-day squad for the first two matches of the upcoming home series against Pakistan.

Virender Sehwag [ Images ], who had been on the sidelines for quite sometime, has been recalled into the team announced by the BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah after a meeting of the selection committee in Ahmedabad [ Images ] on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh [ Images ] paceman Praveen Kumar [ Images ] was the lone new face in the team which also sees the return of opener Gautam Gambhir [ Images ] in place of Subramaniam Badrinath [ Images ].

Dravid, 34, averages less than 10 in his last 10 one-day matches and was dropped for the final one-dayer against Australia [ Images ] earlier this month.

"We wanted to give him a break for a while," chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar said.

"He is a great player. He will be back very soon."

Vengsarkar also said the selection committee had consulted captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] over telephone before finalising the squad

 "We have consulted Mahendra Singh Dhoni over phone," Vengsarkar said adding that "those who have not been picked definitely have a chance to make a comeback".

On Sehwag, Vengsarkar said he had performed well in the current Challenger series and in the past against Pakistan.

"Sehwag has played a fine innings today and he has also performed well in the past. He is an experienced player," Vengsarkar said referring to Sehwag's 57-ball 75 in the third match of the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy om Ahmedabad on Saturday.

The chairman of selectors said pacer Praveen Kumar, who picked a five-wicket haul on Friday, gave option to the team.

"Praveen has also done well for India [ Images ] A team and he gives the team options," he said.

Vengsarkar said "Badrinath's name was discussed" but he could pick only 15 fine players.

"Badrinath is a fine player but we could pick only 15 fine players. We have picked a winning team. There is a role for everyone who does well," he said.

The first two matches will be played at Guwahati on November 5 and at Mohali on November 8.

The BCCI also announced that Lalchand Rajput will continue as interim cricket manager for the ODI series against Pakistan.

Team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh [ Images ], Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly [ Images ], Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ], Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa [ Images ], Rohit Sharma [ Images ], Harbhajan Singh [ Images ], Murali Kartik [ Images ], Zaheer Khan [ Images ], R P Singh, Irfan Pathan [ Images ], S Sreesanth [ Images ], Praveen Kumar.