Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke watches the international rugby union match between Australia and France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane
Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke watches the international rugby union match between Australia and France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane June 7, 2014. REUTERS/Jason O'Brien

Australia has named Michael Clarke in its 15-man World Cup squad even though he is yet to be declared fit. Clarke underwent hamstring surgery weeks ago.

Clarke, on the other hand, does not have much time to prove his fitness as the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will start on Feb. 14. Australia plays against England in Melbourne on that day but Clarke will have until Australia plays its second match against Bangladesh in Brisbane on Feb. 21. If Clarke fails to prove his fitness, George Bailey is likely to take the responsibility of the captaincy even though no standby captain is named. Clarke, however, said that he was confident that he would stand up to the challenge. "I'm not really focussed on the Bangladesh date, that's for the medical staff. For me, I'm just focussed on my rehab." ABC News quotes Clarke, "There will be tests along the way; my goal is to pass every single one of those tests."

Australia will play its arch rival New Zealand in Auckland on Feb. 28. Afghanistan, which is going to play for the first time in a world cup, will play against Australia in Perth on Mar. 4. The other two teams in Group A, Sri Lanka and Scotland, will face Australia in Sydney and in Hobart consecutively. While the Sri Lanka match will be held on Mar. 8, the Scotland match will be played on Mar. 11. Australia will also play a warm up match against India on Feb. 8 and against U.A.E on Feb. 11.

The 15-man World Cup squad for Australia include three spinners: Nathan Lyon, Cameron Boyce and Xavier Doherty. The pace attack includes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood who has recently had an impressive debut test series against India. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell is selected to be a part of the team even though his recent performances have not been quite impressive. Two more all-rounders, Shane Watson and Mitch Marsh, are selected while Australia will also have James Faulkner, David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith who has been awarded the Man of the Series Award in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

The Team: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vice-capt), Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@IBTimes.com.au