Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad dies aged 81

The original 'Little Master', Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad dies aged 81


Hanif Mohammad, the original 'Little Master' who played the longest innings in Test cricket, has died at the age of 81. He had been undergoing treatment for respiratory complications from his lung cancer in Karachi's Aga Khan hospital. Late on August 8, he was shifted to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. Hanif was diagnosed with the cancer in 2013, for which he received treatment in London.

Hanif played 55 Tests, including Pakistan's first. Imtiaz Ahmed, 88, and Waqar Hasan, 83, are the only two survivors from that team. Hanif was renowned for his immaculate defensive technique. He scored 3915 runs at an average of 43.98. His best was an epic 337 as Pakistan saved the Barbados Test in 1958 while following on. It was the highest Test score and the longest first-class innings then. At 970 minutes, it is still the longest Test innings.

Hanif was born in Junagadh in the Indian state of Gujarat. He and his four brothers moved to Pakistan after partition; four of the five brothers played Tests while Raees, the fifth, was a 12th man once. At least one of the Mohammad brothers played in Pakistan's first 101 Tests. Hanif's son Shoaib played 45 Tests and grandson Shehzar 30 first-class matches. In 2010, a Cricinfo jury chose Hanif as the opener alongside Saeed Anwar in the all-time Pakistan Test XI.

After retiring as an international cricketer, Hanif co-founded the magazine The Cricketer Pakistan in 1972, which he edited for two decades. He also served as the manager of the formidable Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) team, which one the domestic one-day tournament, Wills Cup, three years in a row in the 1980s.

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Inna_Lillahi_wa_inna_ilaihi_raji'un

May the Almighty Allah place you in comfort in Jannah al Firdous

Rest In Peace, Haniff

You are my very first Hero in Cricket .

my first anti hero.  he stopped west indies cold.

I was maybe in Kindergarten and he came to my Masjid in Kitty Village

The big men talking cricket and he lifted his Kurtah.

Indelibly printed on my mind is the HUGE bruises on his Chest

Seam imprints along his breast bone and redness on his rib cage  !

compliments of West Indies fast bowlers...

Young Gilchrist, Hall and Griffith~

www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1044833.html

  Imran Khan ✔ @ImranKhanPTI

Saddened by the passing of Hanif Muhammad. he was the first of the great

Pakistani batsmen and came from the most talented cricketing family.

  sachin tendulkar ✔ @sachin_rt

The cricketing legend #HanifMohammad was always positive and supportive.
Have fond memories of meeting him in 2005. RIP

My father though 16 years older was a huge fan of the little master :

                       

    Ric Finlay @RicFinlay

One of my earliest memories is of Hanif getting stuck into Aus at MCG, 1964.

No Asian batsman has scored more on Aus debut than his 104 & 93

Inna lilahi wa Inna ilaihi raji'un.

From God we come and to him shall be our return.

Rest in eternal peace, be given his book in his right hand, and may you be granted jannatul Firdous.

May he be forgiven for sins he may have committed knowingly or unknowingly.

Very good cricketer and perhaps the first great Pakistani batsmen/ allrounder.

Great cricketing family and although saw a couple of his brothers, never had the privilege.

I recall how magnanimous he was when BCL surpassed his long standing first class record.

All he takes with him now are his deeds.

Condolences to the family and friends.

Hanif Mohammad .. an icon & an institution .. here with JM at

Hall of Fame induction on 1 Mar 2009.