Tamim Iqbal cuts short Essex stay after one match

Tamim Iqbal has left Essex after just one game of his planned eight-match T20 Blast contract.

The Bangladesh opener signed for the Eagles last week and played in Sunday's South Group defeat to Kent at Beckenham.

But a short Essex statement released on Tuesday announced Tamim's immediate departure "due to personal reasons".

The statement added: "We wish him all the best and it would be appreciated if Tamim's privacy is respected during this time."

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Tamim has a career T20 strike rate of close to 120, and Essex coach Chris Silverwood had hoped the left-hander would add a new dimension to his side's short-form game.

Speaking ahead of the 28-year-old's arrival Silverwood said: "We identified the opening berth as an area we wanted to strengthen and we are thrilled to get a player of Tamim's calibre into the club."