Dean Jones breaks down while speaking about Asif Ali’s daughter

Professionals have to often keep personal tragedies aside and fulfil their responsibilities and the same happens with quite a few cricketers. Pakistani batsman Asif Ali went through a similar experience recently and it left many teary-eyed, including former Australia cricketer Dean Jones. Ali, the 27-year-old batsman recently learned about his daughter’s cancer and yet smashed a match-winning knock for his side Islamabad United.

Addressing a press conference after Ali’s 10-ball 24 not out against Karachi Kings in the first eliminator, United’s head coach Jones broke down while speaking on the condition of Ali’s daughter. “Asif got a very sick child. We just have to be wary about this. He is a good kid,” Jones said, before walking away from the conference, with a choked voice and wet eyes.

Ali slammed 10-ball 24 not out to take United closer to the final

Ali was the man who took the defending champions of the PSL a step closer to the final by making the chase for 162 in 20 overs a success in the dying overs. He hit two sixes and a four to guide his side home even as the Man of the Match award went to English player Alex Hales who scored 41 off 42 balls higher up the order.

Former Pakistan captain and fast bowler Waqar Younis praised Ali for staying focused despite his personal worried. “Hats off to him, it isn’t easy. He’s been going through this for the last year. Coming out and playing a tournament like this, it’s heartbreaking, what we’re hearing from the hospital and the news coming through,” Younis said after the game.

Ali though couldn’t produce the same magic in the second eliminator against Peshawar Zalmi as the United lost to them by 48 runs while chasing a steeper target of 215. He fell for a duck facing just two balls and one can’t really blame him for the failure. For Zalmi, it was a revenge of the last year’s final when they were beaten by United by 3 wickets.

Zalmi will play Quetta Gladiators in a re-run of 2017 final on Sunday. Gladiator will be playing their third final this year and will look for a change of luck as they had lost the final to United and Zalmi last two times.

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