Hanif Mohammad: The Little Master Before Tendulkar
Hanif Mohammad held the record for the longest Test innings in history — 337 runs over 16 hours 10 minutes — and was the first great batsman Pakistan produced, inspiring generations of cricketers.
Pakistan's First Great Batsman
Hanif Mohammad played 55 Tests for Pakistan between 1952 and 1969, scoring 3,915 runs at an average of 43.98. He was the first Pakistani batsman to achieve international recognition, opening the batting with a technique and temperament that set the standard for everyone who followed. Short in stature — earning the nickname 'The Little Master' decades before Tendulkar — he compensated with supreme concentration and a rock-solid defence.
The Greatest Rearguard in Test History
In January 1958 in Barbados, facing defeat against the West Indies, Hanif batted for 16 hours and 10 minutes — the longest innings ever played in Test cricket — scoring 337. Pakistan had been set 473 to win; Hanif's innings saved the match in the most extraordinary demonstration of concentration and endurance ever witnessed on a cricket field. The innings lasted from the second day until the fifth, and West Indies were unable to take his wicket.
The Mohammad Family
Hanif was one of five Mohammad brothers — Wazir, Raees, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq — all of whom played first-class cricket and four of whom (Wazir, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq) played Test cricket for Pakistan. No family in cricket history has produced as many Test players. Hanif was the eldest and most celebrated, and his influence on his brothers' development was profound.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hanif Mohammad famous for in Test cricket?
Hanif Mohammad is famous for playing the longest innings by time in Test history — 337 runs in 16 hours 10 minutes against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1958, saving Pakistan from defeat.