Rivals pay tribute to ‘little master’

MUMBAI: Pakistan batting legend Hanif Mohammad passed away at a Karachi hospital on Thursday after a brief fight back, when doctors claimed he was revived after there was no heartbeat for six minutes.

A few hours later, doctors pronounced the talismanic batsman of the 1950s and 1960s was no more. Well, it was always going to be difficult to break through his defence. In a career spanning over 17 years, Hanif played only 55 Tests but aggregated 3915 runs at an average of 43.98.

Hanif made his debut against India at New Delhi in 1952, scoring a half-century in his first innings. Eight years later, when Pakistan toured India for a five-match series, he had become the backbone of their batting.

In the first Test at Mumbai, India were under new captain Nari Contractor while Hanif was nursing a toe injury.

NO RUNNER “Hanif was battling a toe injury and was almost certain not to take part. However, when his name featured on the team sheet, I went up to Fazal (Mahmood) and told him I won’t allow Hanif a runner unless he’s hit on the same place again,” Contractor told HT.

Hanif went on to score a staggering 160, supported by Saeed Ahmed, who scored 121. In the end, Hanif was run out, and Pakistan fell from 301/2 to 350 all out.

“We tried to bowl bouncers at him but he would guide them with ease over midwicket and deep square leg. It was a flawless innings,” said Contractor. “You could probably bowl anything at him and he would collect runs. However, in Delhi, we got him out in a stupid manner, after bowling a few bouncers at him. It was as if he didn’t know how to play bouncers.”

Chandu Borde, who was part of that squad, said: “It was an extremely courageous innings.

“To play against India, when there’s so much pressure on and off the field, it was always going to be difficult. And here he was, scoring 160 at ease.”

The five-match series didn’t produce a single result and was part of 13 draws in a row between them.

“In our days, a batsman was judged by how well he left the delivery outside offstump. That is where Hanif stood out,” Contractor said.

“He was immensely focused on his game, knew how to build his innings and wouldn’t lose his concentration once settled. That’s probably what helped him leave a mark.”

Hanif ’s best was reserved for West Indies. In the first Test of the 1957/58 series in Barbados, Pakistan trailed by 473 runs and were forced to follow-on when he opened the innings with Imtiaz Ahmed.

His 337 over 970 minutes ensured a draw.

We tried to bowl bouncers at him but he would guide them with ease over midwicket and deep square leg. It was a flawless innings NARI CONTRACTOR, Former India captain remembers Hanif’s 160run knock in Mumbai