Pakistan batsman Hanif Mohammad, passed away today at age of 81 after a prolonged illness.
The 81-year-old was famous for his dogged batting in Pakistan’s nascent years in international cricket, having opened as a schoolboy for the country’s first Test against India in Delhi in 1952.
Short in stature Mohammad — one of four brothers who played for Pakistan and a former national team captain — hit a still unbeaten record of 337 in a marathon 970-minute stay at the crease against the West Indies in Barbados in 1958.
That record earned him the epithet of “Little Master”, which stayed with him for an illustrious career that lasted until 1970 during which he played 55 Tests.
Mohammad surpassed Donald Bradman’s record for the highest first class innings, scoring 499 for Karachi against Bahawalpur in January 1959 — a record which West Indian Brian Lara broke by scoring 501 not out for Warwickshire county against Durham in 1994.
Mohammad died while under treatment at the private Aga Khan hospital after suffering multiple breathing and liver problems, having undergone an operation for liver cancer three years ago.
