"Azharuddin will formally join the Congress today," senior party leader Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of Andhra Pradesh in the All India Congress Committee, said.

Azharuddin, who had been banned from cricket in 2000 for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that had rocked the game internationally, had met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Moily and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Srinivas last month and expressed his desire to join the party.

According to sources, the former cricketer has shown interest in contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Hyderabad and conveyed it to the party leadership.

A veteran of 99 Test matches, Azhar scored 6215 runs at an average of 45.03. He also played 334 ODIs and scored 9378 runs at an average of 36.92. Azhar was India's most successful captain till Sourav Ganguly [Images] bettered his feat.

Along with his wife Sangeeta Bijlani, Azhar runs an event management company and has set up a health club in the Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad.