Grieving Asif rejoins Pakistan squad after daughter's funeral
Asif Ali returned back to Pakistan when his minor daughter died in the U.S.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistani batsman Asif Ali on Saturday left for England to join Pakistan cricket team in the World Cup 2019, a few days after he had returned to Pakistan following his daughter’s death.
“Leaving today to join Pakistan team in UK for our Cricket World Cup journey. We as a team will be in need of your prayers & unconditional support. These are the final few lines for my princess Dua Fatima. Meri beti k liye dua or Fateha ki darkhwast hai. Aap sab k liye duaaain!,” the cricketer tweeted.
Asif Ali returned back to Pakistan when his minor daughter died in the U.S. where she was being treated in fourth stage of cancer.
His tweet also accompanied a statement in which the cricketer thanked everyone who stood by him in "this extremely difficult time.
Leaving today to join Pakistan team in UK for our Cricket World Cup journey. We as a team will be in need of your prayers & unconditional support.
— Asif Ali (@AasifAli2018) May 25, 2019
These are the final few lines for my princess Dua Fatima. Meri beti k liye dua or Fateha ki darkhwast hai. Aap sab k liye duaaain! pic.twitter.com/XeS9ducwZZ
"I want to to exten my special gratitude to all doctors, US Consulate General Lahore, Pakistan Embassy of Chicago and New York, Mayo Clionic Rochester, Pakistani community of Minnesota, entire media family and may fans for their extra ordinary support unconditional care, love and prayers for my daughter," the statement read.
Despite his daughter’s illness, Ali had made himself available for the national team and was included in the squad for the England series.
In April Ali had announced on Twitter that his daughter was battling cancer and was being taken to the United States for treatment.
The 27-year-old Ali was initially not named in Pakistan’s World Cup squad but made the 17-man group for the series in England where the middle-order batsman hit two half-centuries in four innings.
He was, however, included in Pakistan’s final 15-member squad for the World Cup which begins on May 30. Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against West Indies on May 31.
He will be available for Pakistan s second warm-up match against Bangladesh in Cardiff on Sunday.
Asif called on Pakistan fans to support the side, who open their World Cup campaign with a match against the West Indies in Nottingham on Friday.
"We as a team will be in need of your prayers and unconditional support."
Pakistan have lost their first warm-up match against Afghanistan on Friday.
