Mohammed Siraj's father passes away; Hyderabad pacer can't attend last rites

India pacer Mohammed Siraj's father passed away on Friday due to a lung ailment. The Hyderabad-based fast bowler is in Australia with the Indian national team and will miss not be able to travel to India for the last rites due to the quarantine rules in place.

Siraj, who is currently training with Team India in Sydney, received the news after returning from the practice session.

"My dad's wish was always this - mera beta, desh ka naam roshan karna (my son, you should make my country proud). And, I will do that for sure. I know what kind of hardship my dad faced in my early days driving an auto rickshaw to let me pursue my passion for the game," Siraj, who had lost his elder brother when he was just seven, was quoted, as saying.

The 26-year-old Siraj, who rose through the ranks from the bylanes of Toli Chowki, gained attention after having an excellent 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, where he finished with 41 wickets and as a reward, the fast bowler was given an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract worth INR 2.6 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

"It is shocking. I lost the biggest support of my life. It was his dream to see me play for the country and I am glad that way I could realise that and bring joy for him. The coach Shastri Sir and captain Virat Kohli were informed about the news. They just told me to be bold and are lending all the support," a devastated Siraj informed.

Siraj has represented the Indian team in four matches – three T20Is and one ODI – since his international debut in 2017. His maiden India match was a T20I against New Zealand at Rajkot, where Siraj had picked up the wicket of BlackCaps skipper Kane Williamson.

India and Australia are set to lock horns in a full-fledged series Down Under, starting from Nov. 27. India's long tour will kick-off with three ODIs with the first two being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and the final ODI in Canberra. The three T20Is will take place again in Sydney and Canberra before both the teams face off in the much-awaited four-Test Border-Gavaskar series in December.

The last time India travelled to Australia, the hosts were without Warner and Smith and Virat Kohli had become the first captain from Asia to win a Test series Down Under.