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India cricketer Mohammed Siraj says he’s proud of his late father’s job as an auto driver.
Mohammed Siraj poses for picture with his family. (Image Credit: IG/mohammedsirajofficial)
India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj is calling out trolls for insulting him by pointing out his late father’s job as an auto driver. Siraj, who is now living a comfortable life thanks to him rising through the ranks to become an international cricketer, hailed from a lower middle-class family based out of Hyderabad. In an interview, he had recalled how his father, an auto driver, would ensure the family wasn’t impacted by their financial condition.
Siraj, currently with Indian Test squad in England, has recalled his humble beginnings and revealed that every time he ends up underperforming, the trolls try to humiliate him by asking him to drive an autorickshaw like his late father.
“I am grateful every day to get a chance to represent India,” Siraj wrote on Instagram. “Who would’ve thought, a son of an auto-driver playing for the Indian cricket team? Every time a kid comes up and says he also will play for India, I smile with pride. But there are also those who reduce it to an insult. Who say “go back to driving autos like your dad” anytime I don’t have a good match.”
Siraj said his father taught him a valuable lesson of working hard and ignoring the naysayers. Siraj was on Australia tour in 2020 when his father passed away after a brief illness. Due to the covid restrictions, he wasn’t able to travel back to India for the funeral.
“But my dad’s work is not an insult, it’s my strength. He taught me what hard work really means– keeping your head down and pushing on, no matter what anyone says. All those days walking home from a long day of practice taught me hunger. Every time people ignored me, I worked harder. Now I represent India because of years of effort. Yet it only takes a few words online to turn my journey into a stereotype,” he added.
Siraj was part of India squad that won the T20 World Cup last year.
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A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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