Dhaka – Bangladeshi dashing opener Tamim Iqbal has dismissed the media reports on the attempted hate crime against his family in England, saying he is returning home after playing a single match for Essex due to personal reasons.According to media reports, Tamim, his wife Ayesha Siddiqa who was wearing hijab, and their one-year-old son were dining out when some miscreants chased them and attempted to throw acid on them which is the reason behind the cut off the Essex’s stint.In his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Tamim said the reports on the hate crime are not true.”Some reports of attempted hate crime against my family NOT true. Season at Essex shortened for personal reasons.#lovecricketinEngland,” he tweeted.”I want all my fans and well-wishers to know that I cut short my season with Essex to come back home early for personal reasons. Some media reported that we were the target of attempted hate crime. This is really not true. England is one of my favorite
places to play cricket and Essex have been entirely gracious even though I had to leave early. I thank all my fans and well-wishers for their concern and messages and look forward to going back to England for future matches,” he said in a Facebook post.Earlier, when Essex Country Cricket Club confirmed Tamim’s leaving England and returning to Bangladesh with immediate effect, some reports said that Tamim and his family faced a hate-crime attack there and that’s the reason behind his leaving.Tamim left Dhaka for England on July 7 and played only one game for Essex against Kent Spitfires on July 9. He was supposed to play eight games for the county team.Tamim got the county team’s proposal to play for the side following his brilliant performances against England and Australia in the last Champions Trophy in England and Wales.UNB news agency
