Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj took 5-104 in England’s second innings at the Oval. Despite the impact of Bumrah, who didn’t play at the Oval, Siraj was a key player in the series.
Posting on FB long time cricket fan Tariq Ali while noting it was cricket at its best, the Test rather than the short form, goes on to note something most if not all the UK media is unlikely to pick up
This was a wonderful series. There was one unpleasant aspect confined to the Indian camp.. Mohammed Siraj, the gifted seamer, whose brilliant performance today was decisive in drawing the series and who is the only Muslim player left in the Indian side was the victim of unfriendly briefings to the press. ‘Just a workhorse,’ ‘Not really a skillful bowler.’ The ESPN cricket commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar could barely conceal his hostility to Siraj in public. Indian culture has moved so far right under Modi that the Manjrekars of this worlds could be doing this to curry favour with someone or the other. Islamophobia is rife in the country. And I have had reports of some key members of recent teams subjecting Muslim players to abuse, especially when India played Pakistan. Today Siraj was and Indian hero and cheered by everyone at theOval. And tomorrow…?
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