Siraj Hosts Bengal Team for Dinner Ahead of SMAT Match
Hyderabad’s own Mohammed Siraj, a prominent fast bowler for India, welcomed fellow cricketers Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, and other members of the Bengal team to his restaurant. The players gathered in the city before their upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) match against Puducherry, scheduled for December 6.
The Bengal team and Siraj shared a delightful dinner, enhancing their team spirit just days before the big game. Mohammed Shami took to social media to share some pictures from the gathering, thanking Siraj for his warm hospitality.
“Thanks to Mohammad Siraj for inviting me and my teammates to his restaurant. It was a great way to build our bond. We enjoyed good food, shared laughs, and talked about our experiences on and off the field,” Shami wrote in his post.
This season, Siraj has played just one match in the SMAT, where he took 1 wicket for 15 runs in four overs, helping Hyderabad secure a three-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh. Currently, he is not part of the Indian squad for the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, having been rested after the Test series against the same team.
In contrast, Mohammed Shami has been in remarkable form, recently achieving impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 13 runs in a match against Services. He has taken nine wickets in the tournament so far, averaging 19.44 with his best performance being 4/13. Shami is determined to prove himself in domestic cricket, having last represented India in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
As for the team standings, Bengal leads the Elite Group C with four wins out of five matches, accumulating 16 points. Hyderabad is also on top of the Elite Group B table, sharing the same points from five matches. Their next challenge will be against Bihar in Jadavpur.
