Gough is still going strong in the twilight of his career

The 35-year-old bowler last played in a one-day international in July 2005.

England also named players recovering from injury, including Andrew Flintoff, James Anderson, Ian Blackwell, Ashley Giles and Liam Plunkett.

There are five uncapped players in Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Mal Loye, Graham Onions and Michael Yardy but Kabir Ali has been omitted.

Interview: England chairman of selectors David Graveney

And England man-of-the-moment, spinner Monty Panesar, has also been overlooked for what is considered a mini version of the World Cup.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "I'll probably ring him to explain that the door is not completely shut but for him the best thing is if he concentrates on Test cricket."

England, runners-up in the 2004 Champions Trophy, need to trim the squad down to 14 by 7 September.

He is performing well for Essex and I am sure he will be seeking to further impress the selectors over the next few weeks as will all the other pace bowlers in our 30 David Graveney on Gough

Graveney explained why the recovering players had been included at this stage.

He said: "The medical advice we have received is that there is a good chance that they will be available for the tournament but we will need to review their progress before the squad has to be reduced to 14 on 7 September.

"We have kept faith with the bulk of the squad who appeared against Sri Lanka as we feel there were encouraging individual performances in that series despite the disappointing results overall.

"Darren Gough has been a regular member of the Essex side this season and worked hard to overcome the knee injury which limited his county appearances last summer.

"He is performing well for Essex and I am sure he will be seeking to further impress the selectors over the next few weeks as will all the other pace bowlers in our 30."

TMS VIEW The fact that Gough went on a dancing show seems to have eradicated people's memories of his last few games in an England shirt RC TMS: Have your say

Veteran Gough, who has played 157 one-day games for England and taken 235 wickets, opted out of last winter's overseas tours to spend more time with his family but found fame after winning the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

He said: "My performances have been there this season and you can't ignore them. This selection keeps my World Cup dream alive and although I'm realistic and know you have to take one month at a time I hope this will ultimately enable me to go to the World Cup - which has always been my aim."

The Champions Trophy one-day tournament will be held between 7 October and 5 November in India and is between the top six ranked teams plus two qualifiers from current Trophy holders West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Each team plays three matches in a group round robin with the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals.

England are in tough group with Australia, hosts India plus a qualifier and play their first match on 15 October.

Champions Trophy provisional squad:

Batsmen: Ian Bell (Warks), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Alastair Cook (Essex), Ed Joyce (Middx), Mal Loye (Lancs), Kevin Pietersen (Hants), Vikram Solanki (Worcs), Andrew Strauss (Middx), Marcus Trescothick (Somst)

Wicket-keepers: Geraint Jones (Kent), Chris Read (Notts)

All-rounders: Ian Blackwell (Somst), Tim Bresnan (Yorks), Andrew Flintoff (Lancs), Glen Chapple (Lancs), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Paul Collingwood (Durham), James Dalrymple (Middx), Alex Loudon (Warks), Michael Yardy (Sussex)

Bowlers: James Anderson (Lancs), Stuart Broad (Leics), Ashley Giles (Warks), Darren Gough (Essex), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Matthew Hoggard (Yorks), Jon Lewis (Gloucs), Sajid Mahmood (Lancs), Graham Onions (Durham), Liam Plunkett (Durham)