Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan)
Former Pakistan cricketer Hanif Mohammad was one of the greatest batsmen in Pakistan cricket history, who has also been honoured as the original Little Master by ESPNcricinfo. On 21st December 1934, he was born in Junagadh (Gujarat, India).
Hanif made his international debut for Pakistan in October 1952 during the Delhi Test against the hosts India. While he played international cricket till 1969, he played 55 Tests where the right-handed batsman scored 3915 runs with an average of 43.98, including 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries. He was the first Pakistan cricketer to score a Test triple-century as he scored 337 runs against West Indies at Bridgetown in January 1958. He also led the Pakistan team in 11 Tests from 1964 to 1967.
In the first-class cricket, Hanif’s highest score was 499 for Karachi (against Bahawalpur at Karachi in January 1959), which was also the record knock in the first-class history. In June 1994, the Caribbean legend Brian Lara only managed to break that record by scoring 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Birmingham.
Like Hanif, his brothers Mushtaq Mohammad and Sadiq Mohammad were also born in Junagadh (Gujarat, India), but served for Pakistan.