The spin duo of Harbhajan Singh [Images] and Murali Kartik [Images] made a Test comeback for India when they were named in the 14-member squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan.

Ranadeb Bose, Ishant Sharma, Ramesh Powar [Images] and Gautam Gambhir [Images], who were in the team that played the Test series in England [Images], were dropped, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Newly-appointed captain Anil Kumble was present at the selection committee meeting.

One-day and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named vice-captain of the squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan.

Harbhajan, who has taken 238 wickets in 57 Tests, last played in a Test eleven in April-May 2006.

Kartik's absence from the Test rankings has been even longer. The left arm spinner, who played only eight Tests since his debut in 1999-2000, last figured in the final eleven against South Africa at Kanpur in 2004-05.

The Railways' bowler's improved performance in the one-day format since his recall out of the blue against Australia in the previous home series merits a comeback, especially in home conditions.

India will play a three-Test series against Pakistan, the first of which will be held in New Delhi from November 22 to 26. Kolkata and Bangalore will host the next two matches respectively.

Squad:

India: Anil Kumble (captain), Rahul Dravid [Images], SachinTendulkar, Sourav Ganguly [Images], V V S Laxman [Images], Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] (v/c & wk), Yuvraj Singh [Images], Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan [Images], Wasim Jaffer, RP Singh, S Sreesanth [Images], Murali Kartik and Dinesh Karthik.

Photograph: Arun Patil