Hanif stable after knee treatment

Hanif Mohammad, the legendary Pakistan batsman, is in stable condition after undergoing a successful right knee joint aspiration at a Karachi hospital. Hanif was hospitalised in a critical condition on March 7 after his knees, that were operated nearly 44 years ago, were locked and temporarily paralysed his lower half of the body.

Hanif, popularly called the Little Master, is remembered for several epic knocks, like his 970-minute 337 against West Indies at Barbados in 1958. He followed it up with a colossal 499 in a first-class game at Karachi and will go down as one of Pakistan's greatest batsmen.

Hanif confirmed that the left knee joint aspiration would be done on March 9. "I am feeling more comfortable [after the right knee joint aspiration] as there is better movement as compared to yesterday when I couldn't feel any sensation in the legs," Hanif told Press Trust of India. "The left [knee] is still swollen and the scans have revealed minor broken pieces inside. But there will be no minor or major surgery but just a little denting. The surgeon believes that the pain will remain in the left knee even after the joint aspiration. This is something that I will probably have to live with."

Hanif, who was rushed to the hospital on March 7, underwent a series of tests for a suspect "stroke". Dr Wajid Ali, a leading orthopedic surgeon, said Hanif was an arthritic patient and the knees were possibly locked because of spasm or strain in lower back.