Asif Ali’s daughter passes away after battling cancer

The daughter of Pakistani cricketer Asif Ali passed away on Sunday after a ballet with stage IV cancer. Despite his daughter’s illness, Asif Ali had made himself available for the national team and was included in the squad for the England series.

In April Asif Ali had announced on Twitter that his daughter was battling cancer and was being taken to the United States for treatment.

Asif Ali’s Pakistan Super League Team Islamabad United tweeted condolences over the tragic loss of his daughter as did Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. 

Earlier on Sunday, the 27-year-old Ali made 22 during Pakistan's 54-run defeat by England in the fifth and final one-day international at Headingley -- a loss that saw England take the series 4-0 after the opening match was washed out.

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.

He was not included in Pakistan's preliminary squad for the World Cup in England, which starts later this month, but that would not prevent him being selected in the 15-man squad for the tournament.

Teams have until May 23 to name their final World Cup squads.

Ali had learnt about his daughter's illness during the fourth season of the PSL, with Islamabad United coach Dean Jones, the former Australia batsman, breaking down in tears when talking about the child's condition.