ECB chairman Colin graves  has offered to help former  West  Indies  star Collis king in his immigration fight, after it emerged the west Indian has been forced to return to Barbados while applying for a visa to live in the UK alongside his British wife.

King, who starred in West Indies’ 1979 world cup final victory, has spent more than 40 years living and working in the UK, alongside his native Barbados. But now, aged 67, he has been left in limbo after being told he could not submit an application for a spousal visa while still in the country, and given 14 days to return to the Caribbean.

King’s story has emerged following a controversial crackdown by the UK home office, although it is distinct from the issues affecting members of the windrush generation who came to live and work in Britain after the second world war.

The British  publication  the  telegraph has  revealed  that  king  says  he  has  been  treated  like a criminal”.

Graves was previously chairman of Dunnington CC in Yorkshire, where king has played and coached for 20 years, becoming a popular figure on the club scene.

King has been unable to play for Dunnington this summer, and has spent the last four months waiting to hear about his status. Having been told he had to return to Barbados, he also suffered the indignity of having his passport taken away at the airport, and only returned when his flight landed in Bridgetown.

An attacking batsman who played nine tests and 18 ODIS, king hit 86 from just 66 balls as he and VIV Richards demolished England in the 1979 world cup final.

World Series cricket and a rebel tour of South Africa ended his international career.