'Siraj We Are Proud Of You'- BCCI Lauds Mohammed Siraj For Fulfilling His Late Father's Dream

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj made the ultimate sacrifice when he decided to skip the last rites of his father and stay back with the Indian team for the Australian series.

Siraj’s father had passed away on November 20, following which he was offered the option by the BCCI of leaving the bio-bubble and head back home in order to perform the last rites of his father and spend time with his family.

However, the burning desire to fulfill his father’s dream of him representing the country at the highest level propelled Siraj to make the ultimate sacrifice.

“He was the person who supported me the most. It’s a great loss for me. He wished that I continue playing for India and make my country proud. I just want to fulfil my father’s dream,” Mohammed Siraj had said in a video released by the BCCI.

“Even though he is not in the world, he’ll always be with me,” added Siraj.

Want to fulfill my father's dream: Siraj

The fast bowler speaks about overcoming personal loss and why he decided to continue performing national duties in Australia. Interview by @Moulinparikh

Full interview ?https://t.co/xv8ohMYneK #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/UAOVgivbx1

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 23, 2020

A month later, Mohammed Siraj fulfilled his late father’s dream as he marked his run-up to deliver his first ball in Test match cricket in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

What followed during the course of the next three Tests was Mohammed Siraj displaying his precocious skills, his nerves of steel, and the unrelenting desire to make his father as well as the country proud.

During the course of the three Tests, Siraj’s patience and character were testified to the hilt as he overcame mental trauma, racial abuse with precision, eventually leading to him putting together his finest performance to date- a maiden five-wicket haul at the Gabba in Brisbane on Monday.

And, even in the moment of glory, the fast bowler did not forget to pay tribute to his father.

“I want to thank god that I got the chance to play for India as it was my dad’s wish too. If he was alive today, he would have been very happy. But I know his blessings were with me and I am speechless after my performance,” said Siraj after claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Siraj had fulfilled the wishes of his father to the hilt and as a tribute to his unrelenting resilience, the BCCI uploaded the aforementioned video where the fast bowler had said that he wanted to fulfill his father’s dream by staying back with the team, adding that they are proud of what he has achieved in the past 2 months.

Before the Border-Gavaskar Test series, Siraj lost his father. He then made a promise to himself. Today, he fulfilled it.

Siraj, we are all very proud of you. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VUMhgJsJO4

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2021

Also Read: How A Telephonic Conversation With His Mother Inspired Mohammed Siraj To Fulfill His Father’s Dream