BCB official reveals Tamim Iqbal's wife harassed in UK, quits county cricket for Essex

According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Tamim Iqbal and his family were chased out of a restaurant in London as his wife was wearing a hijab. Ayesha Siddiqa was the victim of a racially-motivated incident in Stratford in east London. Following the mishap, Iqbal ended his county cricket stint with Essex, citing ‘personal reasons.’ And his decision came just days after the reported attack.

Tamim reported the incident to Essex Cricket on Monday, the day after his debut in a NatWest Blast match against Kent at Beckenham. He went on to ask that his contract be terminated so the family could return to Bangladesh. Essex immediately agreed to his request, and both the BCB and Tamim decided to play down the incident.

Tamim’s arrival in the UK coincided with the Stratford protests against the recent acid attacks and Islamophobia in East London. It’s being speculated that his family was a victim of the hate crime.

According to Indian Express, a BCB official said, “We suspect they were chased because Tamim’s wife wears a hijab. Hopefully, we’ll know the details once he returns from England today.”

He also took to his Facebook page to clear any air of ambiguity. You can see the post below.

Following that, Essex’s chairman John Faragher and chief executive Derek Bowden released a brief statement requesting Tamim’s privacy be respected. The statement read, “Essex County Cricket Club can confirm that overseas player Tamim Iqbal has left the club with immediate effect due to personal reasons. We wish him all the best, and it would be appreciated if Tamim’s privacy is respected during this time.”

There have also been conflicting reports, emanating from Bangladesh, about the exact nature of the incident. It is said to have occurred in a Stratford restaurant or while the family was on the street. Whatever be the cause of Tamim’s hurried departure, it actual reason remains to be officially unreported.