Hyderabad, Aug 10: International cricketer Mohammed Siraj’s contributions to the victories of the national team are getting recognition from the government of Telangana, which has not only allotted him a house site in Hyderabad but also announced a Group-I job.
The fast bowler, who was a member of the Indian team that won the Twenty20 World Cup 2024 last month, has been allotted 600 square yards of government land free of cost in posh Jubilee Hills.
The state government issued an order allotting the land at Road No.78, Jubilee Hills.
Hyderabad district Collector had submitted a proposal to the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration, Telangana, for allotment of land. According to the GO, the proposal was placed before the Telangana Land Management Authority (TGLMA) and the TGLMA has recommended for allotment.
The State Cabinet at its meeting on August 1 decided to allocate 600 square yards of house sites each in Hyderabad for shooter Esha Singh, two-time world boxing champion Nikhat Zareen and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.
The state government also decided to provide Group-1 jobs to Nikhat Zareen and Siraj.
Highlighting Siraj’s achievements and his contribution to India’s T20 World Cup victory, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy told the state Assembly that the Group-I job to the international cricketer will give him direct entry to high-ranking positions such as Deputy Superintendent of Police if he chooses to join the police force.
The Chief Minister said that though Siraj was not educationally qualified for the Group-I job, the Cabinet has given him the exemption as part of its efforts to encourage sportspersons. “For Group-I job the required educational qualification is a degree. Siraj has passed intermediate (12th class) but we have given the exemption to provide him the Group-I job,” he said.
It was on July 9 that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced a residential plot and a government job for Siraj when he had called on him.
Revanth Reddy congratulated the all-rounder for bringing laurels to the country and a great honour to the Telangana State in international cricket.
The Chief Minister felicitated and praised Siraj for displaying his amazing talent in international cricket and standing as one of the greatest players in the world of cricket.
Former Indian cricket captain and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) working president Mohammed Azharuddin was also present.
Son of an auto-rickshaw driver, Siraj came to prominence in 2017 when he bagged Rs.2.6 crore contract in Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. Siraj, then 22, was purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Then living in a small house in the First Lancer area, Siraj was elated over winning the IPL contract and announced that he would buy a decent house.
A few months later, he was included in the Indian team and has since been a part of it. The pacer has so far played 27 tests and taken 74 wickets. He also took 71 wickets in 44 one-day internationals. He also played 16 Twenty20 matches.
Siraj had purchased a house in Al-Hasnath Colony in Toli Chowki in 2020. The same year, he made his test debut against Australia and won the laurels by emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the series, with 13 wickets from three matches.
Tragedy struck Siraj when he was in Australia as he lost his father Mohammed Ghouse. The bowler could not come home for the last rites due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Last year, he purchased a new house in the Film Nagar area of Jubilee Hills. With the state government allotting him a big house site and deciding to give him a Group-I job, Siraj is on a real high in his career.
