AHMEDABAD, India: Paceman Mohammed Siraj feared his humble roots as the son of an auto-rickshaw driver would shatter his dreams of playing at the World Cup.
On Saturday, however, the 29-year-old fast bowler played a crucial role in India’s seven-wicket rout of arch-rivals Pakistan at Ahmedabad’s 132,000-seater ground, the world’s biggest cricket arena.
He dismissed opener Abdullah Shafique lbw for 20 and later claimed the prize wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam who had made 50.
From 155-2, Pakistan collapsed to 191 all out in 42.5 overs.
“To be honest I never thought that I would play a World Cup because I have come from so low (background),” Hyderabad native Siraj told reporters.
Siraj, whose rickshaw-driving father died in 2020, rose from his humble beginnings to play in the cash-soaked Indian Premier League.
He made his ODI debut in 2019 and Test bow the following year.
“Now I am playing so it is a matter of achievement for me. India and Pakistan are known for their high intensity and high-pressure games and today I saw that and I felt good.”
Siraj went wicketless for 76 runs in India’s previous win over Afghanistan but came roaring back on Saturday.
He insisted his previous performance did not affect his mindset coming into the key clash.
“Everyone has an off day. The graph can come down sometimes and one bad day doesn’t make me a bad performer,” said Siraj, who singled out Shafique’s wicket as being a planned strike.
“So I keep my confidence up with the fact that I am bowling well. This confidence helps me in my bowling and I have backed myself to do that and got the result today.”
Siraj was ably supported by the rest of the bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya also taking two wickets each.
“Our bowling unit is doing so well, it’s not that just one bowler is performing,” said Siraj.
“Everyone is putting up his hand even if someone is not getting a wicket then he is building pressure and bowling a dot ball. All this will help the team succeed.”
India remain favorites to win the tournament after they registered their third win in as many matches to lead the 10-team table.
“This is a World Cup match, and every match is very important for us, not just an India-Pakistan match,” said Siraj.
“We are focusing on one match at a time. We played three and won three. The environment is very good.”
'Never thought I’d play at World Cup,' says rickshaw driver’s son Siraj
https://arab.news/6gg6m
'Never thought I’d play at World Cup,' says rickshaw driver’s son Siraj
- Mohammed Siraj played a crucial role in India’s thumping victory over Pakistan on Saturday
- Siraj rose from his humble beginnings to play in the cash-soaked Indian Premier League
Liverpool rocked by last-gasp defeat at Wolves
- Liverpool’s first defeat in five games in all competitions will raise fresh questions about Slot’s Anfield future
LONDON: Liverpool suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolves as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the Premier League’s bottom club on Tuesday.
Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux.
Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November.
But Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool.
It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017.
Liverpool have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, with only Newcastle shipping more in the same period in the Premier League.
The Reds remain fifth but their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have been hurt by a defeat that means sixth-placed Chelsea will go above them if they beat Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Liverpool’s first defeat in five games in all competitions will raise fresh questions about Slot’s Anfield future.
This was the first of Liverpool’s two trips to Molineux in the space of four days, with an immediate chance for revenge in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday.
Slot this week said he no longer finds Premier League matches a “joy to watch” due to the rise in set-piece goals, and Liverpool supporters took no pleasure from this dismal performance.
Wolves and Liverpool fans joined in a sustained round of applause on 18 minutes in memory of Diogo Jota, who wore that shirt number during his time at Molineux before joining the Reds.
Portugal forward Jota died in a car crash in Spain last year.
Crest-fallen Slot
That emotional tribute seemed to suck the energy from both teams in a scrappy first half.
Liverpool were punished for their lethargy in the 78th minute.
Tolu Arokodare got away with a nudge on Virgil van Dijk to win the ball before playing a superb pass to Rodrigo Gomes, who held off Ibrahima Konate and guided a clinical finish past Alisson Becker.
Liverpool finally awoke from their slumber after that shock, grabbing an equalizer in the 83rd minute with a helping hand from Wolves.
Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was guilty of a woeful pass that Salah intercepted, racing into the area for a shot that eluded Jose Sa’s weak attempted save.
Salah has scored just eight goals — five in the league — during a turbulent season.
Liverpool were still creaky at the back and Andre pounced on Alisson’s poor clearance four minutes to steal the points in stoppage-time.
Andre’s powerful strike deflected off Liverpool defender Joe Gomez and looped over the wrong-footed Alisson as Wolves boss Rob Edwards sprinted down the touchline in a wild celebration while Slot looked on crestfallen.
Wolves are 11 points from safety with eight games left and relegation remains almost certain despite this memorable victory.
Everton ended their dismal home form and pushed Burnley closer to relegation with a 2-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Buoyed by their 3-2 win at Newcastle last weekend, Everton dispatched second-bottom Burnley with their first win in eight home league matches.
Former Burnley defender James Tarkowski put Everton in front with a powerful header from James Garner’s 32nd minute free-kick.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall doubled Everton’s advantage on the hour taking Iliman Ndiaye’s pass and clipping a composed finish past Martin Dubravka from six yards.
Everton remain in contention for a European berth, while Burnley are eight points from safety with just nine games left.
Habib Diarra’s penalty fired Sunderland to a 1-0 victory against Leeds on their first Premier League visit to Elland Road since 2002.
Bournemouth and Brentford shared a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium that did little to improve either side’s hopes of qualifying for Europe.
