Meet the auto-driver's star son who makes it to IPL

Hyderabad [India], Feb. 20 (ANI): Besides England all-rounder Ben Stokes and Afghanistan cricketers Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, there was one more name which caught the attention of many at the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction held on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bengaluru. It was the 22-year-old young pacer from Hyderabad, Mohammed Siraj. Siraj, who had a base price of Rs. 20 lakh, was bought by Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) at a whopping amount of Rs 2.6 crores. The golden feather was added in his cap following Siraj's excellent performance in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy. The pacer played a starring role for Hyderabad in his first full season, as they reached the Ranji Trophy knockouts for the first time since 2011-12. His nine-wicket haul in the quarter-finals then nearly upset Mumbai. Siraj followed that with nine wickets in the Inter-State T20s and had an economy rate of 6.57. He has also earned call-ups to the Rest of India and India A sides this season. "I am very happy after being selected for the IPL. It was my dream to get selected in the IPL. I think my performance in the Ranji Trophy has earned me the spot," Shiraj told ANI. Coming from a lower middle class family, where his father works as an auto driver and mother is a homemaker, it is but obvious that he is indebted to his parents for their sacrifices in making him a professional cricketer. "I want to thank my family for all their support. I am feeling very proud. Now, I want to improve on my bowling and give my best performance," he added. Siraj's father Mohammad Ghouse, a diabetic patient, has been driving for living since 25 years. "Masha-allah. I am very happy and proud. I am over the moon. It's because of the blessings of each and everyone here in Hyderabad...I never thought in his childhood that he would go this far," Ghouse said with a sense of pride and happiness in his eyes. "He had this passion for cricket and I never restricted him. Whenever I used to see his performance on TV, I used to pray to God that he keeps on improving," he added. Siraj's mother Shabana Begum, who used to work in houses to make both ends meet till last year, said her son was passionate about cricket since childhood. "Allam-dullah. It is all the outcome of his hard work. And it is also the result of the prayers which we made for him. I want to thank everyone," she told ANI. (ANI)