Protesters mistake Pakistan U19 cricket team for asylum seekers

• Anti-immigration protesters mistakenly targeted the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team at a Portsmouth hotel.
• The protesters believed the cricketers were asylum seekers.
• Around 40-50 people gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Cosham.
• George Madgwick, a Reform UK councilor, confirmed the identities of the cricketers.
• Hampshire Police found no offenses had been committed.
• The England and Wales Cricket Board is reviewing security for the team.

Anti-immigration protesters in Portsmouth, UK, mistakenly gathered outside a hotel on Tuesday evening, believing members of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team were asylum seekers. The demonstration was called off after local councilor George Madgwick confirmed the cricketers' identities.

Around 30 to 40 people congregated at the Marriott Hotel in Cosham after false rumors circulated that a coach carrying migrants had arrived. Sumair Syed, chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board, stated that the team reported people knocking on their doors but that the players "behaved responsibly and didn't escalate the situation." Hampshire Police confirmed that officers found no offenses had been committed and the crowd dispersed by approximately 9 p.m. BST.

George Madgwick, a Reform UK councilor for Hampshire, attended the scene and said hotel staff showed him proof that the guests were the touring cricket team. He urged people online not to attend, stating that the situation had "spurred from" speculation based on a photo of "foreign nationals leaving the coach." Madgwick denied the reaction had been racist, attributing it to one person's assumption that others followed.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been in contact with the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the team's wellbeing and is reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of their tour. Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, described the incident as "deeply concerning" and "completely unacceptable."