Siraj’s brother Ismail talks about his brother’s fairy tale journey to the top and how his family is super excited when he will make his test debut in Melbourne on Saturday.
Hyderabad: “My father (the late Mohammed Ghouse) would be the happiest person in heaven. He had a dream that Siraj would play for India in test cricket. A month after his death, my brother had that God-sent opportunity. It’s some of the best news of recent times, ” Brother Ismail, a software engineer, said from his residence at Toli Chowki after hearing that his brother Mohd Siraj will make his testing debut against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.
Ghouse had passed away on November 19. “It was one of the biggest losses for our family. Siraj was inconsolable when he heard that ‘Abba jaan’ had died. We had great difficulty controlling his emotions from here to Australia. He had very little confidence and at one point even thought about going back to India. Fortunately, members of the Indian team, particularly Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, played an important role in comforting him, ” Ismail added.
Ismail noted: “My father always told Siraj that India is proud. Desh Ko Roshan Karo. He always had a feeling of pride every time Siraj played for India. There was always a big smile on her face and a sense of satisfaction every time Siraj donned the Indian colors. ”
From the picturesque alleys of Khaja Nagar in the Banjara Hills, 26-year-old Siraj has fulfilled her father’s dreams. “We went through many difficulties. Being an autorickshaw driver, my father and mother Shabana Begum did all the various jobs. I was studious while Siraj was always busy playing cricket in the small streets. My mother was often upset that Siraj never focused her attention on studies. He would often beat him saying he was wasting his career playing.
“But my father always supported Siraj. He silently slipped money into Siraj’s pocket and encouraged him to play cricket. Siraj was passionate about the game and fast bowling. Today we are all happy that he is playing for India in test cricket, that too on the magnificent MCG field. I would have the blessings of heaven from my father. It’s a great time for our family, ” said Ismail, who had passed his engineering in 2014 and now acts as his brother’s manager.
Siraj had moved to Toli Chowki, where she could provide the best comforts for her parents. “We have not sold our father’s car. He has ridden the Jeep Compass with pride in recent years. ”
Former National Selection Committee Chairman MSK Prasad said he always believed that Siraj had the potential to play for India. “He is one of the successful cricketers in India A matches. He has made six or more shots from five fields also against big teams. We thought he was a very good red ball cricket, as he could move late and was a workhorse. ”
P Jyothi Prasad, who was the chair of the Hyderabad selection committee when Siraj made his Ranji debut in the 2014-15 season, said that this fast bowler from Hyderabad always thrilled him. “I was hungry to stand out on a big stage.”
Siraj will be Hyderabad’s second fast pitcher after Syed Abid Ali, who incidentally made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide back in 1966, to play for India in Test cricket.
Former Hyderabad starter Abdul Azeem, who was instrumental in shaping Siraj’s career when he gave him cricket shoes, etc., said that God is great. “I have seen the difficulties the family went through. He deserves all the luck. ”
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