Mumbai:  National selectors today gambled on out-of-form batsman Virender Sehwag and all-rounder Irfan Pathan by including them in India's 15-member World Cup cricket squad which contains no surprises from the team that has performed with mixed results for the past one year.

Both Sehwag and Pathan have been woefully out of touch for a long time but still managed to get the nod based on their past record and match-winning abilities.

The Delhi opener's inclusion in the squad, announced BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah, was on the cards after captain Rahul Dravid had made it clear that 'past record' would be taken into account while finalising the squad for the mega event to be held in the West Indies in March-April.

"Sehwag has played in different positions and has the ability to play in different conditions, it's a challenge for him. The onus is on him after being given a chance by the selectors," said Dravid who along with coach Greg Chappell attended the selection meeting.

"Sehwag has got to perform. It's not that I am supporting him, it's just about getting the right combination for the World Cup.

"It's not a personal issue, it's about whether one can perform in the given conditions." The squad, which has Sachin Tendulkar as vice-captain, contains two specialist spinners and five seamers. The team has two wicketkeepers, with Dinesh Kaarthick also finding a berth on the basis of his batting form.