Pakistan cricket team rocked by tragic death of Asif Ali's daughter
Pakistan batsman Asif Ali is expected to leave the tour of England following the death of his daughter, who had been having treatment for cancer in the United States.
Ali’s Pakistan Super League team Islamabad United shared the heartbreaking news on Monday AEST.
"ISLU family pays its deepest condolences to Asif Ali on the tragic loss of his daughter,” the tweet said.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Asif and his family. Asif is a great example of strength and courage. He is an inspiration to us."
ISLU family pays its deepest condolences to @AasifAli2018 on the tragic loss of his daughter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Asif & his family. Asif is a great example of strength & courage. He is an inspiration to us.
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) May 19, 2019
Before his departure for the limited-overs series in England, the 27-year-old Ali had tweeted on April 24 that he was sending his daughter to the United States for treatment.
He had also requested his fans to pray for his 19-month-old daughter.
My daughter is fighting the stage IV cancer and we are taking her to US for her treatment. A big shout out to @usembislamabad and @USCGLahore for issuing the visa to us within an hour. Special thanks to Mike, Elizabeth, Tanveer & @TalhaAisham Bhai. Keep my princess in your Duas!
— Asif Ali (@AasifAli2018) April 22, 2019
Ali had learned about his daughter's illness in March.
Islamabad United coach Dean Jones, the former Australia batsman, broke down in tears when talking about the child's condition at a press conference.
Dean Jones in tears at today's press conference when speaking about Asif Ali's daughter pic.twitter.com/UMDWytP0Vu
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2019
Upon hearing the news of her death, Jones joined the cricket community and Pakistani identities in paying tribute to Ali and his family.
On behalf of my family and the @IsbUnited players and families... we send our condolences and love to @AasifAli2018 and his family on the passing of his beautiful daughter. #staystrongAsif 😪
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) May 20, 2019
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
"We belong to Allah and to Allah we shall return."
Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your daughter @AasifAli2018, it’s the most difficult thing a parent can face. May Allah bless her soul and give you all sabr. Ameen— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) May 19, 2019
Really Sad news on the passing away of @AasifAli2018 daughter . May the Almighty grant Patience to the family and surly the beautiful soul will be playing in the gardens of Paradise.
— Saqlain Mushtaq (@Saqlain_Mushtaq) May 19, 2019
Asif Ali’s daughter is undergoing treatment in USA and fighting for life while Asif continues to play for country.
This takes so much courage. Respect🙏🙏
Saw his daughter couple of times in PSL and the sight remains in my eyes and I cry.
Only parents can understand the pain.— Nabeel Hashmi (@iNabeelHashmi) May 19, 2019
I know too well the pain & anguish of losing a loved one to cancer. My heart goes out to @AasifAli2018 & his family who lost their beautiful child to this most merciless disease.May Allah grant them strength in this difficult time & may another brave cancer warrior rest in peace.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 19, 2019
Ali took part in Pakistan’s 54-run defeat to England on the day his daughter died.
He made 22 runs in the fifth and final one-day international at Headingley.
Ali featured in every game of the series, scoring two fifties with a career best of 52 in the third ODI in Bristol.
The hard-hitting Ali has scored 342 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 31.09.
Not included in Pakistan's preliminary squad for the Cricket World Cup, he was added to the final squad on Monday – just hours after his daughter’s death was made public.
“He is scheduled to be back in time for our warm-up games where we intend to play our full-strength XI,” chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said.
“But if he cannot make it back in time for those, we will wait for him whenever he does return.”
Pakistan open their World Cup campaign against the West Indies on May 31.
with AFP
