 "Hanif Mohammad")
Legendary Pakistani batsman Hanif Mohammad was declared clinically dead for six minutes on Thursday before he was revived back to life at the Aga Khan hospital.
In what can only be described as a miraculous happening, Hanif's son, Shoaib Mohammad first announced from the hospital on various television channels that his father had passed away after losing a protracted battle with various ailments due to which doctors had put the former legend on a ventilator. But few minutes later it was announced that Hanif had not passed away and was alive.
He had breathing problems, owing to which he was shifted to a ventilator two days ago, reports Geo TV.
The 81-year-old is suffering from lung cancer for which he underwent surgery in London in 2013. He was admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital here three weeks ago after he experienced breathing problems, according to The Dawn.
Shoaib told reporters on Thursday that he was "misinformed" about his father's death as his heartbeat became faint and the family mistakenly believed that he had passed away.
"His heartbeat had stopped for six minutes but the doctors managed to revive his heartbeat back," Shoaib said.
"God has given him a second chance and I just feel this is due to the prayers of his millions of fans and supporters," he said.
Shoaib explained that he was on the way to hospital when a relative had informed him that his 81-year-old father had passed away.
"I just panicked and started crying but when I reached the hospital I was told his heartbeat had stopped for six minutes but doctors had managed to bring him back," a sobbing Shoaib said.
"Hanif Mohammad is alive and he is being provided the best possible treatment after he was admitted to hospital for complicated respiratory problems two weeks back," a spokesman of the hospital told the media.
Hanif Mohammad is battling for his life after being put on a ventilator since July 30.
"He is now on a ventilator and in intensive care unit getting treatment for complications due to his lung cancer," the spokesman said.
Hanif, 81, known as the little master for his batting skills was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013 and went to London for surgery and treatment and returned home well.
But Shoaib said the cancer had spread with time.
Earlier, when the news of his illness had started making rounds, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced that the federal government would bear all medical expenses of the ailing cricketer.
Chief Minister of Sindh province of Pakistan Murad Ai Shah had also visited him at the hospital and presented a cheque worth one million Pakistani rupees (around Rs.6,40,000).
The cricket legend, nicknamed "Little Master", played the longest innings in Test history -- his 970-minute 337 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58. The knock was followed a year later with the highest first-class innings at that point -- 499 run out.
Hanif was known for his defensive batting but could attack when the situation called for it, and many claim he is the originator of the reverse-sweep.
Hanif represented Pakistan in 55 Tests, scoring 3,915 runs at an average of 43.98. He still holds the record for highest score (337) in an innings by a Pakistani batsman followed by Inzamamul Haq (329) and Younus Khan (313).
The veteran was also named as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968.
Hanif was a member of Pakistan's first touring squad that went to India in 1954/55 and went on to play 55 Tests scoring a memorable 337 runs against the West Indies in 1957/58.
It remains the longest innings in Test history (and stood as the longest in all first-class cricket for over 40 years).
