London: Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has denied media reports that his abrupt departure from English county cricket was prompted by a hate crime against his family.

The 28-year-old left English side Essex after one match on Tuesday, just four days after joining to play eight matches in the T20 Bash.

On Wednesday, media reports in Bangladesh and Britain said the opener’s wife, who wears a hijab, and child had been chased out of a local restaurant and had acid thrown at them.

However, Iqbal said on his Facebook page the reports were “really not true” and said his departure was for “personal reasons”.

“England is one my of favourite places to play cricket, and Essex have been entirely gracious even though I had to leave early.”

Essex refused to comment on the reports and echoed Iqbal’s comments.

However, an official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board said the decision followed an incident in London where Tamim, his wife, Ayesha Siddiqa, and one-year-old son were harassed while out for dinner.

“We suspect they were chased because Tamim’s wife wears a hijab. Hopefully we’ll know the details once he returns from England today,” said the cricket official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bangladesh’s top-read English newspaper The Daily Star quoted a source as saying the alleged attackers even attempted to throw acid at Siddiqa.

The official could not confirm whether Tamim reported the matter to police.

Keeping it personal

BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury and Tamim’s older brother, Nafees Iqbal, who also played Test cricket for Bangladesh, refused to comment on what they termed a “personal” matter.

Essex announced on Tuesday that Tamim quit the club after playing in Essex’s seven-wicket loss to Kent in a Twenty20 match last week.

“Essex County Cricket Club can confirm that overseas player, Tamim Iqbal, has left the club with immediate effect due to personal reasons,” a statement said.

Tamim, Bangladesh’s highest international run scorer in all forms of the game, signed only last week for an eight-game stint in England’s T20 Blast competition.

Tamim starred with the bat for Bangladesh in the recent Champions Trophy, scoring a century against England, narrowly missing another against Australia and hitting 70 in the semi-final against India.