Ganguly scored the last of his 22 one-day hundreds in March 2003

Ganguly has not played for India since the tour of Pakistan in February, but will compete in the Challenger series in a side captained by Mohammad Kaif.

They will play against the first-choice squad led by Rahul Dravid and an A team skippered by Venugopal Rao.

"Sourav's career is not over," said chief selector Kiran More.

Ganguly is one of only four batsmen to score more than 10,000 runs in limited-overs cricket and has played in two World Cups, leading India to the final in South Africa in 2003.

He made his international debut in 1992 but played the last of his 279 one-day matches last September amid speculation of a rift with coach Greg Chappell.

ONE-DAY RUN-SCORERS S Tendulkar (Ind) 14,370 Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pkn) 11,549 S Jayasuriya (Sri) 11,104 S Ganguly (Ind) 10,123

More, who is about to step down as head of the selectors after serving four years in the role, said of Ganguly: "The door is not closed for him but this could be his last chance."

India have had a disappointing recent record in the one-day arena, losing 4-1 in the West Indies and being beaten by both Australia and the Windies in the triangular series in Malaysia.

That led to suggestion that Ganguly, who was left out of the Champions Trophy squad, could return for the tour to South Africa later this year and the World Cup in March.

But More warned: "He will need to show his form in the Challengers and other domestic matches to be considered for selection.

The four-day Challenger series in Chennai begins on Sunday.