MUMBAI, April 20: India's cricket selectors on Thursday retained non-performing Mohammad Kaif in the 15-man squad for the series of five One-day Internationals in the West Indies next month.

The middle-order batsman has had a horrific run in the limited-overs game this year with scores of eight, five not out, 0, 0, four, 0, 0, five and 15 in his last nine matches.

Chairman of selectors Kiran More, however, backed Kaif to come good and said he was an integral part of the team that was being built for the World Cup in the Caribbean in March-April next year.

“Kaif has been an outstanding success for us in the past and remains a very valuable member of the team despite his poor form,” said More.

“We are confident that with a bit of luck and rest he will be at his best again.” The rest of the squad, led by Rahul Dravid, remains the same that has performed consistently over the past few months.

There was once again no place for former captain Saurav Ganguly despite master batsman Sachin Tendulkar being ruled out due to a shoulder surgery in March.

The team for the four Tests that follow the one-day series will be picked around May 24.

The squad, which leaves for the West Indies on May 12, begins the seven-week tour with a practice match on May 16.

The first two one-dayers will be held at Sabina Park in Jamaica on May 18 and 20, followed by the third in St Kitts on May 23 and the last two at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on May 26 and 28.

India's one-day squad: Rahul Dravid (captain), Robin Uthappa, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel, Venugopal Rao, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh. Coach: Greg Chappell.

—AFP