Mumbai off-spinner Ramesh Powar will join the Indian squad in Pakistan on Wednesday as a back-up option for the injured Harbhajan Singh.

The Indian selection committee announced the decision on Tuesday morning after consulting the team management in Pakistan.

"Yes, the team management wanted an extra spinner since Harbhajan is not hundred percent fit," said chairman of selectors Kiran More. "Plus we always had him in mind for the Pakistan tour."

The 28-year-old spinner was a part of the Indian ODI squad and played two one-day international matches during the 2004 tour of Pakistan. He will join in as the 16th member of the team.

A wily spinner and a hard-hitting batsman, Powar was the mainstay of 36-time Ranji champions Mumbai this season, after captain Sairaj Bahutule shifted to Maharshtra. He topped the bowling charts with 42 wickets and scored 318 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches this season.

The second ODI between India and Pakistan will be held in Rawalpindi on Saturday.