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We visited Hussaini Alam in Hyderabad to speak to Mohammad Mahboob Ahmed, the man who gave Mohammed Siraj his first breakthrough, to understand the enigma that is the pacer.
Mohammed Siraj was India’s best bowler in England. (AP)
What if you put together a team combining India’s batting and spin with Pakistan’s fast bowlers? Who would beat that?
There will never be a right time or way to say this, but Mohammed Siraj, with his skills, has come the closest to answering this perverse question that has dominated a lot of post-partition discourse in the sub-continent.
When India was divided around this time, 79 years ago, the most naturally gifted fast bowlers went to the other side of the border. They became idols, set a culture, and kickstarted an identity that’s more deeply ingrained in Pakistan than anything else.
For decades, the Indian identity was in complete contrast to it. It was stunning and world-beating in its ways, but it did lack that one maniac of an out-and-out pacer – one as skilful with his wrists as with his natural and sometimes, scary fitness.
Someone who wasn’t captaincy material but a loose cannon, a captain’s greatest weapon against stacked odds. Someone who’d not just win you a few Tests, but would turn around a series and in such a way that the only words you’d have are ‘passion’, ‘force’ and ‘what does this guy even eat?’
As Siraj broke through as the highest wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, he announced to the world that he was him. That this was not just any other Indian pacer with a career of what-ifs and nearly-theres.
He showed he has ferocious arm speed, enough to throw a rock as fast as a tennis ball, can make both the old and new ball move both ways, can lead attacks in India and abroad, and is special enough to stand out like a bright bulb in the shadow of the genius that is Jasprit Bumrah. All with a unique repeatability and consistency.
Understanding Siraj thoroughly will take time, and perhaps he’ll only be truly understood once he’s not with the team anymore. But, there’s no better place to start than the narrow lanes of Old Hyderabad, via Mohammad Mahboob Ahmed, the man who gave Siraj his first break.
‘Cricket is life and death for Mohammed Siraj’
The following is an edited account from Mohammad Mahboob Ahmed, the secretary of Charminar Cricket Club, as told to News18 CricketNext at his residence in Hussaini Alam.
He had a friend, Mohammed Kaleem, a vegetable vendor. He introduced me to Siraj and said that this boy is a very good bowler, he is getting very famous, you should help him and support him. I went to the ground near pillar no. 290 at Attapur Ring Road to watch a tennis ball game.
I was delighted to see that this boy had a good physique, good height, and he was bowling very well with the tennis ball. I immediately asked him to come play for my club and promised to support him for professional cricket, whatever he needed.
Siraj refused. The reason – I had to ask him forcefully – was that he could not afford it. So I took care of the travel and apparel expenses via a stipend for every game, and Siraj was in the system. I told him that I will provide you with the travelling expenses, with the dress you want, and the shoes you want.
The first game was against Balaji CC. It was the first time he bowled with a leather ball. It was also the first time he wore spikes. He took five wickets! In the second game, which had two innings, he took 13 wickets.
Over the season, Siraj’s tally amounted to around 40 wickets, but he was still not selected for the Hyderabad Under-23 team, which we were expecting.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association board president at that time was Mr. Arshad Ayub. I spoke to him and saw that the selectors are making a mistake here. After a lot of fighting with them, they included the kid in the team. He took 43 wickets in the season, which was the best all-India performance for an under-23. On that basis, he got into the Ranji Trophy.
I remember, I got a call from Arshad Ayub, he said Miyan, your boy has been selected in the Ranji Trophy. It is great news for you; you supported and got him to this level. He asked if I was not going to distribute sweets!
So I took a basket of Jalebi, and when I was distributing it to people — it was a Friday, I remember — I was wearing a kurta pyjama, which got soaked with sugar, and I didn’t even realise.
I was out of my mind with happiness. It still gives me goosebumps thinking that I brought that child to this level. I have never been so happy or so successful. It was the biggest achievement for me.
It wasn’t always easy. I remember vividly that there was a camp for the HCA. That camp was also in the period of Arshad Ayub and John Manoj. The director was Bobby sir. He had given Siraj a letter for indiscipline and said he was not fit for cricket and banned him from HCA.
The reason? He wasn’t coming to practice. I went and told them that he wasn’t educated enough and that I would speak to Siraj. I begged them to give him a chance. I apologised profusely, too.
Arshad Ayub permitted me and gave me a second chance, but told me that he needed serious correction, or it would be his last opportunity.
I went to Siraj’s house and his father and mother were there too. I told them all that their whole family had never seen as much money as Siraj would earn from cricket if he fulfils his potential.
That has now proven true.
After that, I would wake him up at 5.30 in the morning daily. From then on, things changed, and he grew as a professional cricketer.
People talk about his fitness. It is natural. Siraj used to do a part-time job of making Roomali Rotis in Hyderabad. He has been a hard worker from the beginning.
He is such a player that since he was selected in SRH, till now, he has never been injured, sick, or unfit. He doesn’t eat any junk and is always careful about his fitness and sleep.
He’s an inspiration. In Hyderabad, we tell everyone khelenge koodenge toh honge nawab. We tell everyone to sleep on time, eat on time. What do the boys say? ‘Yes, sir, I will,’ but they don’t, and remain busy with their phones.
Siraj has known from the start how he’s supposed to bowl and bring consistency into the nets. When you give him some extra responsibility, he adjusts his game accordingly.
Cricket is his bread and butter. Cricket is his life. It’s life and death for him. So there is no other option. He has spent a lot of time playing cricket, and he has worked hard from a very young age, elevating himself from so many problems. There was a time he had nothing; today, he has got everything from cricket.
We want Siraj to go to the top and progress, and he should get a lot of success in his personal life as well. Along with that, I would also like to say that he should look after those who were his friends. Not financially – financially doesn’t matter – but people just yearn for love. You should give them some time, keep them in mind.
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