KARACHI: Legendary cricketer Hanif Mohammad on Thursday passed away at a private hospital in Karachi, doctors confirmed.
Former Test cricketer Hanif Mohammad has lost his battle with cancer, doctors at the Aga Khan hospital confirmed.
The cricketer had been facing health complications and is undergoing treatment for cancer. Earlier, when news of his illness started making rounds, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced that the federal government would bear all medical expenses of the ailing cricketer.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ai Shah had also visited him at the hospital and presented a cheque worth one million rupees.
The cricket legend, nicknamed “Little Master” played the longest innings in Test history – his 970-minute 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58. The knock was followed a year later with the highest first-class innings to that point, 499 run out.
Hanif was known for his defensive batting but could attack when the situation called for it, and many claim he is the originator of the reverse-sweep.
Hanif represented Pakistan in 55 Tests, scoring 3,915 runs at an average of 43.98. He still holds the record for highest score (337) in an innings by a Pakistani batsman followed by Inzamamul Haq (329) and Younus Khan (313). The veteran was also named as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968.
