Standing tall with the giants

Hanif Mohammad played 55 Tests from 1952 to 1969, averaged nearly 44. Numbers did not define him, he defined them.

Luck definitely favoured Pakistan at the time of partition when Hanif Mohammad’s family migrated to this side of the border as the country, in days that came along, bore witness to one of the finest cricketers ever produced. One that would make it to the all-time eleven 41 years after hanging up his boots.

Statistics do not matter when you judge a player’s influence on the game because Hanif was above all these digits. However, his quick rise to fame – given the absence of global coverage that exists in today’s game – was after he struck a monumental 337 against the mighty West Indies. But those runs were not the only reason why Hanif made a crashing entry into the record books. It was the manner and the circumstances in which he got runs that made the effort super human.

West Indies, at 579 for nine, thought this was more than enough and declared. The bowlers proved the decision was right and bundled out Pakistan for a paltry 106 with Hanif making just 17. With the bowlers pumped up and raring to have a second go, the hosts put Pakistan in again as the batsmen fell like nine pins.

What followed was a man dedicated and determined to lead the way. A 970-minute vigil at the crease fetched Hanif 337 runs and history was re-written. But he was not over yet. A year later, record books were graced with his name again as the fans, not over with the nostalgia, were given another treat. He scored 499 runs in a Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match, a record that was to be surpassed by Brian Lara many years later.

“At that time we played for our country,” said Hanif who turned 76 last month. “Things have changed since then. Wearing the national cap was an honour and we sacrificed a lot for that honour. There was no Twenty20 or one-day cricket. We could endure and play long innings. All our concentration was on the game.”

Hanif was critical of the Pakistan batsmen and he has the right to be. No expectations of such a composed, monumental innings are present now.

“There’s too much cricket and too much money. Batsmen don’t concentrate on the match 100 per cent. So these sorts of innings are hard to play for them,” said Hanif, one of four Pakistan cricketers to be in the ICC Hall of Fame along with Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan.

The man defined Pakistan cricket and the feats – that do not do justice to his stature – made him the first star of the country. One can put him alongside Sir Garfield Sobers and Sachin Tendulkar – two of his favourite batsmen – without even raising the slightest of eyebrows.

Hanif played 55 Tests from 1952 to 1969 and averaged nearly 44. Numbers did not define the master batsmen. He defined them.

The writer is a sub-editor at The Express Tribune

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2011.