Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin is set to overtake Kapil Dev in the number of World Cup appearances as a player and captain when the big event begins on May 14 in England.

Kapil Dev, the victorious 1983 skipper who also led India in the next World Cup in 1987-88, is holding the Indian record jointly with Azharuddin by leading his country in 15 World Cup matches so far.

While Kapil has won eleven matches and lost four, Azhar (who was captain in the last two World Cups in 1992 and 1996 too) has a win- loss record of 6-8 while another match with him as India captain was abandoned.

Azhar, who is set to emulate West Indian Clive Lloyd (1975, 1979, 1983) by leading his country in three world cups when he steps out to toss with South Africa's Hansie Cronje at Hove on May 15, is also on the fringe of lowering another national mark in the mega event for the number of appearances as a player.

Azhar, who played under Kapil’s leadership in the 1987-88 edition hosted jointly by India and Pakistan, has appeared in 22 world cup matches, four less than the 26 played by Haryana hurricane Kapil.

If Azhar plays in all the five preliminary league matches for India in group A then he would cross Kapil Dev’s aggregate appearances as a player.

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