Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad undergoes knee surgery

KARACHI, March 10 (Reuters) Former Pakistan captain Hanif Mohammad has undergone surgery on both knees after feeling paralysis in his lower body.

The 71-year old, popularly known as The Little Master, was admitted to hospital earlier this week.

''I could not put any weight on my legs at all. I suffered acute pain in the knees and the lower body had stopped functioning,'' Hanif told Reuters today from his hospital bed.

Renowned for his dour batting, Hanif still holds the record for the longest-ever test innings when he stayed at the crease for 970 minutes for his 337 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957/58.

Doctors carried out a surgery on both his knees to remove fluid and bone pieces which caused the problem.

Hanif, who appeared in 55 tests, also recorded the highest first-class innings of 499 in 1958/59 until it was surpassed by Brian Lara's 501 in 1994.

''The operation has been successful and I am very satisfied now,'' Hanif added.

''I am grateful for the get-well messages I have got and the doctors have been very good to me.'' His brothers Wazir, Mushtaq and Sadiq all played tests while his son Shoaib appeared in tests and one-day internationals in the 80s and 90s.

REUTERS AY RK1830