Hanif Mohammad

Who is Hanif Mohammad?

Hanif Mohammad is a former Pakistan cricketer. He played for the Pakistani cricket team in 55 Test matches between 1952/53 and 1969/70 and averaged 43.98, with twelve hundreds.

Hanif was trained by Abdul Aziz, an Afghani cricket player, who had earlier played in Ranji Trophy for Jamnagar and father of Indian cricketer, Salim Durani.

The highest of Hanif's Test centuries was a famous 337 made against West Indies in a six-day test at Bridgetown in 1957/58. After Pakistan found itself following on from a first-innings deficit of 473 runs on the afternoon of the third day, Hanif spent more than sixteen hours at the crease compiling his runs, allowing Pakistan to draw the game. It remains the longest innings in Test history. It is the only Test match instance of a triple century in a team's second innings. Displays such as this earned him the nickname "Little Master".

In 1958/59, he surpassed Don Bradman's record for the highest individual first-class innings. Hanif made 499 before being run out attempting his five hundredth run; this mark stood for more than 35 years before being passed by Brian Lara in 1994. In all he made 55 first-class centuries and finished with a strong first-class career average of 52.32. He could bowl with either arm, and kept wicket on a number of occasions.