World Cup 2019: Bereaved Asif Ali leaves for England to rejoin Pakistan squad

Waseem Ahmed 15:18 25/05/2019
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  • Pakistan batsman Asif Ali.

    Pakistan batsman Asif Ali has returned to England to rejoin his country’s 2019 ICC World Cup squad following the funeral of his daughter which was held at Faisalabad on Thursday.

    Asif Ali’s 19-month-old daughter Dua Fatima had passed away after a battle with cancer last Sunday in the United States where she had been receiving treatment for some time.

    Following the tragic loss which took place during Pakistan’s recently concluded ODI series against England, the 27-year-old batsman had been granted leave to return to Faisalabad.

    “I want to remember Dua Fatima as a warrior,” Asif Ali wrote on Twitter.

    “She was my strength and inspiration. The fragrance of her memories is going to stay with me forever.”

    “I again request you all to pray for the soul of my princess. Thanks again for being there for me.”

    The right-handed batsman had not been picked in Pakistan’s preliminary 15-man squad for the World Cup but a string of impressive displays in the ODI series against England saw him make the final cut.

    Asif registered half-centuries in the Southampton and Bristol ODIs to make his way into the final 15-man squad with pacer Wahab Riaz being the other change from the preliminary squad.

    Asif Ali will now hope to be in contention for Pakistan’s second warm-up game against Bangladesh slated to take place on Sunday. Pakistan open their 2019 World Cup campaign on May 31 when they take on West Indies.

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