KARACHI, July 8: Pakistan cricket legend Hanif Mohammad will visit the Indian city of Kolkata to see one of his fans who is suffering from acute leukemia (blood cancer). The Little Master, who is very much touched and pained with the letter of his ailing fan Arnan Ghosh, has wished him an early recovery and long life in his reply with an autograph.

Ghosh, a class-VII student at the Kolkata Boys School, in his e-mail to the former Pakistan captain had expressed a desire to meet him, but his dreadful disease and security reasons were making it "impossible".

Hanif said on Thursday that the cancer-stricken fan has praised his achievements in cricket and requested for an autograph. Hanif, who had the honour of playing longest Test innings in history during which he made 337 against the West Indies at Bridgetown in 1957-58, said that it was his social obligation to visit and boost morale of his young fan.

According to Ghosh's letter, the doctors have proclaimed that his days were numbered. "Your thought-provoking letter was full of love and affection. I have received countless letters from my fans all over the world over but yours is real treasurer," Hanif wrote in his reply.

"Have full faith in God, you will live long," he added. "I offer my most devout prayers for your soon recovery. I would like to see you cheery, playing and enjoying with friends when I visit Kolkata. See you in Kolkata," Hanif wrote while signing his autograph at the end of the letter. -APP