Biography of Hanif Muhammad :-Hanif Mohammad was a former International cricketer who was born on 21 December 1934 in the British Indian State of Junagarh.
After Independence, Hanif Muhammad migrated to Pakistan’s city Karachi along with his parents and siblings. Hanif died on 11 August 2016 in Karachi.
Hanif Mohammad was best known for his batting talents in International cricket. He made his International Test debut on 16 October 1952, also known as “Little Master” Hanif Mohammad was a wicket-keeper batsman, left and right-hand off break bowler as well as a captain of his side.
Hanif with his extraordinary cricketing skills dominated the game for nearly two decades. He was the one to set the cricket trend in Pakistan, the perfect and consistent batting style and technique lured heaps of cricket enthusiast youth of Pakistan to the game soon after the independence.
He had a short test career as the quality of the game was too high that reduced the number of fixtures between test playing nations.
Biography of Hanif Muhammad
- Born:- 21 December 1934, Junagadh, India
- Died:- 11 August 2016, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi
- Spouse:- Shamshad Begam (m. ?–2016)
- Height:- 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
- Siblings:- Mushtaq Mohammad, Sadiq Mohammad, Wazir Mohammad, Raees Mohammad
- Parents:- Sheikh Ismail Mohammed, Ameer Bee
The Little Master excelled in every part of the match including captaincy, Hanif Mohammad had many titles to his name and was one of the greatest batsmen of the20th century. His best performance on the International podium was the longest innings in duration.
He scored 337 runs in 970 minutes against West Indies. Hanif Mohammad still holds the record of longest first-class inning of 499 runs in the first-class match in Pakistan, hewas run out at 499.
A really defensive and technically perfect player of short height, Hanif played every single ball on merit, he never lofted the one blindfolded, he was the man of principles that he abided in every single inning, either first-class or Test cricket.
Hanif Muhammad Stats & Records
Hanif was the popular and first of the series of little masters. He was the first of International caliber in the newly created state of Pakistan.
In 55 test matches he played for the duration of 17 years between 1952 and 1969, Hanif Mohammad scored nearly 4000 runs in Test format with a batting average of 44 per innings. He had 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries in the format.
His top score was 337 against West Indies that was the first triple century by any Pakistani cricketer. In bowling, Hanif Mohammad bowled with both arms as taught by his coach Abdul Aziz along with batting. Hanif took only one International wicket along with 40 catches overall.
In the first-class format, Hanif Mohammad contested in 238 matches, a huge number of five-day games, scoring 17000+ runs at an average of 52.32.
Hanif also took 53 wickets at a respectable average of 28.49 with best bowling figures of 3 wickets for 4 runs. Hanif Mohammad had 55 centuries and 66 fifties in his entire first-class career.
His career, though short but substantial and constructive is still considered one of the best careers of all times.
International Career
Hanif started playing at the age 15, Hanif made his first-class debut when he was 17. His trainer, Abdul Aziz was one of the best batsmen in the sub-continent.
His memorable triple century that was also the highest and longest inning came against West Indies in 1957-58 seasons.
His triple century began as an effort to draw the innings after a target of 473 by West Indies. Hanif stood there for 16+ hours. It remained the longest in fourth innings for 57 years and overall in first-class cricket for 40 years.
In the next season back home, Hanif Mohammad became the highest run-scorer in the first-class format making 499 runs for Karachi.
The inning remained the highest until 1994. Hanif still holds the record for slowest innings ever. He once scored 20 runs off 223 deliveries. His strike rate was 8.97 at the end of innings.
Hanif Muhammad’s best year was 1968, a year before retirement when he was awarded Wisden Cricketer of the Year award. Hanif was the first Pakistani player to receive ICC Hall of Fame in 2009 alongside Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and 52 International players.
When Hanif Muhammad toured England for the first time in 1952 as Pakistan’s first tour of England, the legendary England Coach Alf Gover was asked to look after the technique of the young cricketer. Alf Gover refused to train the young lad and stated that the boy has got everything, he is a natural.
He was technically complete and was complete one as prepared by Abdul Aziz. He was the unique one in the history of the game. In 1957-58, Hanif Muhammad was described as World’s best Batsman for his batting style.
Hanif Muhammad is also known as the father of cricket in Pakistan. The autobiography of Hanif Muhammad is in the process of his son Shoaib Muhammad.
Hanif Muhammad Family and Personal Life
Hanif’s entire paternal family was associated with cricket. His three brothers, Mushtaq Muhammad, Sadiq Muhammad, and Wazir Muhammad were International test players and played for Pakistan under Hanif’s captaincy. Hanif Mohammad’s son Shoaib Muhammad is also a former International cricketer.
His four nephews were first-class cricketers. Hanif Mohammad’s mother Ameer Bee was a national badminton champion in British India. Hanif Muhammad married Shamshad Bibi in 1960.
Shamshad and Hanif were blessed with a boy and two girls. Hanif Muhammad passed away on 11 August 2016 aged 81. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and was shifted to ventilator two days before he died.
Shoaib Muhammad
Shoaib Muhammad was born on January 8, 1961, in Karachi, Pakistan. Shoaib Muhammad is a former International cricketer and son of Hanif Mohammad.
The right-hand batsman played 45 tests, and 63 ODIs. In 45 test games, Shoaib scored 2705 at an impressive batting average of 44.34 with 7 hundred and 13 fifties.
His highest score was 203 not out. Shoaib took 5 wickets in five-day International format. In 63 ODIs, Shoaib scored 1269 at a batting average of 24.40 and scored a hundred and 8 half-centuries. Shoaib is an official instructor of PCB at National Academy of Cricket in Lahore.
