My Mother Told Me To Stay In Australia: Mohammed Siraj On Coping With Father’s Loss
Mohammed Siraj's father Mohammed Ghaus passed away on Friday after suffering from a long lung ailment. The 26-year-old pacer has been picked by the selectors in the Test Squad for the 4-Test match series against Australia.
Mohammed Siraj’s father Mohammed Ghaus passed away on Friday after suffering from a long lung ailment. Mohammed Siraj, on Monday, revealed that his mother has told him to stay in Australia for the upcoming tour as his father had always wanted him to play for the nation.
The 26-year-old pacer has been picked by the selectors in the Test Squad for the 4-Test match series against Australia. Siraj, after the unfortunate demise of his father, has revealed that his father had always wished to see him playing for the nation.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in a statement, revealed that Siraj was given an offer to fly back to India but he denied the offer as he wanted to stay in Australia to fulfil his late father’s wish.
“My father was my biggest support, it’s a big loss for me. My father’s wish was to see me play for India. My mindset is to fulfil his dream. My father is not here in this world but he is with me all the time,” Siraj told BCCI in a video interview.
“My mom reminded me of my father’s dreams. She asked me to stay there and perform well for India and fulfil my father’s dream.”
Mohammed Siraj heard the news of his father’s demise after the practice session in Sydney. His father Mohammed Ghaus was an auto-rickshaw driver before Mohammed Siraj’s career took flight. The 26-year-old pacer also revealed that his father had sacrificed a lot to help him accomplish his dream.
The fellow teammates and captain of Team India Virat Kohli had encouraged him a lot during such a tough time, reveals Mohammed Siraj.
“My teammates have been very supportive, making sure I am not facing any problem here. Virat Bhai encouraged me, told me not to take tension and stay strong and focus on fulfilling your dad’s dreams. He told me that staying strong in this situation will help not just me but my family as well,” Siraj said.
