Mohammed Siraj’s journey from playing street cricket to becoming an international fast bowler is deeply rooted in his family’s unwavering support. His father, Mohammed Ghaus, drove an auto-rickshaw in Hyderabad for over three decades. Despite financial hardships, he was committed to nurturing Siraj’s cricketing aspirations by providing the best gear possible.
Siraj’s mother, Shabana Begum, has been a steadfast source of emotional strength. After her husband’s passing, she continued to guide Siraj with love and faith. Her encouragement has been instrumental in helping him navigate both personal and professional challenges
Siraj lost his father, Mohammed Ghouse, in 2021 while he was on tour to Australia. Since then, this ritual has helped him stay connected to his father, who was an auto-rickshaw driver and played a huge role in supporting Siraj’s dream of becoming a cricketer.
Before leaving for England in June, Siraj packed his bags, hugged his mother, and told her, “Ammi, mere liye dua karna. Main achha karun aur India ko jitau [Mom, pray for me. I want to do well and win for India].” As per ritual, he then went to his father’s grave to pray before heading to the airport.
“Apne abbu se bahot pyar karta hai [Siraj loves his father dearly]. And his father loved him just as much — he would have done anything for him. My prayers are always with Siraj. May Allah bless my bachha with success in everything,” his mother Shabana Begum told to news.
Shabana never misses a match when Siraj is playing. She watched every game of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, clapping, cheering, and offering five prayers every day. In Islam, these daily prayers happen at dawn (Fajr), noon (Dhuhr), afternoon (Asr), sunset (Maghrib), and night (Isha). She didn’t miss a single one during the England tour.
Her prayers seemed to be with him throughout. Siraj played a key role in India’s dramatic win in the fifth Test at The Oval, helping level the series 2-2.
“Ammi always prays for bhai. There’s a lot of power in a mother’s prayer. I believe it’s because
of both our parents’ blessings that he’s in a good space and doing well for India. He video calls Ammi every day to get her blessings. She always tells him, ‘Hamesha tarakki kar, naam roshan kar’ (Keep growing, make us proud),” said his brother, Mohammed Ismail.
Ismail added, “Abbu used to say, ‘Beta, ek din tujhe bahut naam kamana hai. India ke liye khelna hai.’ When he passed away during the Australia tour, Siraj was shattered. But Ammi told him, ‘Jo ho gaya, so ho gaya. Ab game pe dhyan do (What’s done now focus on your game).’” The story of Mohammed Siraj is one of determination and familial sacrifice. His achievements are not solely his own; they reflect the dreams and sacrifices of a family that believed in him wholeheartedly. Their unwavering support transformed a street-cricket enthusiast into an international sensation.
