Mohammed Siraj appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Telangana

Mohammed Siraj was one of the mainstays of India's bowling line-up during the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. The star pacer helped the Men in Blue end their 11-year wait for an ICC title. After his heroics, Telengana acknowledged his contribution to the famous triumph and appointed him as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Telangana under the supervision of the Director General of Police (DGP) in the state.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) speedster expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for the homage paid to him as he reported to Telangana’s DGP Jitender on Friday, October 11.

Siraj was accompanied by MP M. Anil Kumar Yadav and Chairman and President of Telangana Minority Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGMREIS), Mohammed Faheemuddin Qureshi.

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Reddy had announced a residential plot and a government job for Siraj in July when the latter called on him after India won the T20 World Cup in the preceding month. The 54-year-old applauded the efforts of Siraj during the marquee event as he brought laurels to the country and a great honour to Telangana in international cricket.

Highlighting Siraj’s achievements and his contribution to the nation’s T20 World Cup triumph, the chief minister had told the state Assembly recently that the Group-I job to the international player will give him direct entry to high-ranking positions such as Deputy Superintendent of Police if he chooses to join the police force down the line. He acknowledged that Siraj was not educationally qualified for the Group-I job but informed that the Cabinet has given him the exemption as part of its plans to encourage sportspersons.

“For a 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 was quoted as saying by Odisha TV.

When state government allotted a house site to Siraj

A couple of months ago, in August, the state government allotted a house site measuring 600 square yards to Siraj in Hyderabad’s upscale Jubilee Hills. The state government issued an order which allotted the land free of cost to the 30-year-old at Road No 78, Jubilee Hills.

Earlier, the state Cabinet 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 Siraj. The state government also decided to provide Group-1 jobs to Nikhat Zareen and Siraj. Nikhat joined the Telangana Police as a DSP in September.

Also Read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: No place for Mohammed Siraj in former selector's India XI

Siraj made his international debut in 2017 against New Zealand. He has played 29 Tests, 44 ODIs, and 16 T20Is for the Men in Blue. Across the three formats, Siraj has picked up 78, 71 and 14 wickets, respectively. He is part of a revered troika with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and together, they have helped India beat many formidable oppositions in adverse conditions.

The Hyderabad-born returns to action during India's upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. He has been named in the squad for the first Test and is expected to take the new ball alongside Bumrah.