New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, one-time teammate of the late Phillip Hughes, said he was all the time thinking of the Australian during his double-hundred against Pakistan in Sharjah on Saturday.

“Our focus at the moment is not on our performances, it is all about Phil,” said McCullum in a message released by New Zealand Cricket.

“We are heartbroken for Phil’s family, Greg, Virginia, Megan and Jason. No one should go through what you guys are going through right now.

“You are all in our thoughts, our hearts and in Phil’s case, our memories.

“We are reaching out to Phil’s family, Clarke and the Australian boys, medical staff, fans, all who have been affected by Phil’s passing. We are also reaching out to (Sean) Abbott.”

Both teams abandoned the second day’s play in the third Test on Thursday after Hughes’s tragic news came and wore black armbands and observed a minute silence on Friday as a mark of respect for the talented Hughes.

Hughes died of a severe head injury on Thursday after being hit by a bouncer from Sean Abbott in Sheffield Shield match in Sydney.

McCullum said the thoughts of his whole team were with Hughes.

“Cricket is a sport, but the cricket community is a family. We are here for you, we are thinking of you,” said McCullum of Hughes, who he played Twenty20 with for NSW in Australia.

McCullum made a stunning 188-ball 202 against Pakistan on Saturday studded with 21 fours and 11 towering sixes to help his team pile a mammoth 8-637 on the third day of the third and final Test.

It was McCullum’s third double-hundred in a year, making him the fourth batsmen to do so – matching Australia’s trio of Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.

The big total gave New Zealand a lead of 286 and set them up strongly for a series-levelling win.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test and drawing the second.