Mahela Jayawardene, Shahid Afridi set to become most experienced players in 2015 World Cup

Veteran cricketers Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka and Shahid Afridi of Pakistan are on course to become the most experienced players in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup after being named as part of their respective nation's provisional squad for the tournament, that kickstarts on February 14 next year.

If selected for the final squad, both would join an exclusive club of players, which comprises of stalwarts who have represented their nation in five World Cups, featuring greats like Wasim Akram, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Aravinda de Silva, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis, Imran Khan, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thomas Odoyo, Ricky Ponting, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Tikolo.

Currently, Sachin Tendulkar of India and Javed Miandad of Pakistan hold the record for most appearances at ICC's pinnacle event, with playing six World Cups each.

Both Jayawardene and Afridi made their World Cup debut at the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999, and have featured in every event since.

While Jayawardene played in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and 2011, as well as the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Shahid Afridi was a member of the Pakistan side that played the final at Lord's in 1999. He led Pakistan at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 where Pakistan reached the semi-final.