I want my father to stop driving autorickshaw: Mohammed Siraj

22-year-old pacer Mohammed Siraj, who played the lone game against Services in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season, ended up with 41 wickets from 9 matches, a performance which led to his Rest of India selection for the Irani Cup. Siraj was included in the playing XI when Mumbai’s Shardul Thakur was sidelined due to an ankle injury.

His father is an auto driver for around three decades and he wants to ensure he has a life of leisure now. “My father has been driving his autorickshaw for the last 30 years. I urged him to stop, but he did not pay heed to my request. I’m confident of convincing him now. He needs a good rest,” Siraj was quoted as saying by Mid-Day.

Though he failed to scalp any sticks (0/49) for ROI in the first innings, he played a handy cameo of 26 runs from 31 balls at No. 11. Before taking his first Irani Cup wicket – Dhruv Raval for 23, Siraj was unfortunate to have a leg before wicket appeal turned down by umpire Abhijit Deshmukh when Raval was on five. Later, Karun Nair dropped the same batsman at first slip. In the end, he finished with figures of 2 for 39.

The right-arm pacer is waiting for his Ranji Trophy pay cheque to buy a home. “I may purchase a small house. I have seen my parents struggle with financial problems for so many years. Now, I want them to enjoy a good life,” he added. He will receive a sum of Rs 10 lakh approx for representing Hyderabad over two seasons.

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Siraj stays near the Banjara Hills locality in Hyderabad. He actually started off as a batsman during the initial years before switching to become an impressive bowler. “Since I bowled well with the tennis ball, my friends urged me to play in a league tournament where I played for Charminar Cricket Club and performed well. When I played under-23 cricket for Hyderabad last year, our captain Arjun Yadav guided me on a few bowling aspects. I developed on my own,” he said.