BBC SPORT | Cricket | Pakistan turn to legend

Pakistan Test legend Hanif Mohammad has agreed to work with the national team as a batting coach during the tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The 67-year-old made 3,915 runs in 55 Test appearances in the 1950s and 1960s and was followed into the side by brothers Mushtaq and Sadiq.

His innings of 337 against West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958, which lasted more than 16 hours, is still a Pakistan Test record.

Hanif batting in England in
Hanif's name is revered in Pakistan cricket

He also made 499 in a domestic game the following year which stood as the highest first-class score of all time until Brian Lara beat it with 501 not out in 1994.

Hanif was asked to join the team in Zimbabwe following their recent 3-0 defeat by Australia.

Although the batting line-up has been strengthened by the return after injury of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, the PCB believes speicialist assistance is still needed.

"The objective is to improve the technique and patience of the batsmen in the current team and Hanif was a champion in both these areas," said media spokesman Samiul Hasan.

"The decision has been conveyed to Pakistan's team coach Richard Pybus and he is delighted to know that he will be working with a legend."

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Hanif will stay with the squad for the two Tests in Zimbabwe and will then fly with them to South Africa, where potentially, they face a far stiffer examination.

"The youngsters need to learn some basic things, like patience and the requirements of international cricket, and I hope they will learn fast," he commented.


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