Kumar Sangakkara Tweets About Harrowing Immigration Experience in London

He may have been travelling to the United Kingdom for over 15 years but legendary cricketer Kumar Sangakkara experienced the ugly side of immigration for the first time this Friday. The Sri Lankan was reportedly questioned repeatedly by an immigration officer when he arrived to play for county side Surrey. This despite him visiting the UK just weeks back for a county match vs Essex. (Pakistan Cricket Board Boss Stopped at Kolkata Airport)

The incident - details of which were not revealed by Sangakkara - had clearly left the cricketer perturbed. "Back in London last night. Had a horrendous experience with a rude, patronising and extremely discourteous UK immigration officer," Sangakkara tweeted. He then followed it with a series of other messages on the micro-blogging site. "I understand the need for vigilance completely but common courtesy and manners is not too much to ask for," he wrote.

Fortunately for the cricketer, the other members of the immigration staff were more polite. "Luckily the rest of the UK immigration officers were lovely. Coming to the UK for 15 years and first time I have encountered this," Sangakkara tweeted.

Considered one of the finest players on the field and a thorough gentleman off it, Sangakkara has had an illustrious cricketing career - one scripted around the world. Back home in Sri Lanka, several reports are seeing the latest unfortunate incident as a possible case of racism. Sangakkara himself hinted towards the same in his final message. "No matter colour, religion or fame every well intentioned traveller deserves courtesy. Luckily for me it was one person and just this once," he wrote.