Pakistan U19 Team Mistaken for Asylum Seekers During Hotel Protest in Portsmouth

An unusual incident in Portsmouth has drawn attention after anti-immigration protesters mistakenly identified members of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team as asylum seekers staying at a local hotel.

The incident occurred outside a four-star hotel in Portsmouth, where the Pakistan U19 squad was staying during its multi-format tour of England. A group of masked protesters had gathered outside the hotel following reports that a group of asylum seekers had been accommodated there.

According to The Guardian, the situation emerged amid heightened tensions in the city after a small boat carrying asylum seekers arrived on the UK coast from France. Hundreds of people, including several wearing balaclavas, had earlier clashed with police in Portsmouth on Sunday evening.

George Madgwick, a Reform councillor who was called to the hotel to help calm the situation, said the protesters had reportedly been told that around 40 men who did not appear to be English had arrived at the hotel. The fact that the group had arrived on a coach operated by the same company used to transport asylum seekers apparently added to the confusion.

The situation was eventually defused after Madgwick spoke with the hotel manager, who clarified that the guests were members of Pakistan’s Under-21 cricket team, in England for a tour of the south coast, and were using the hotel as their base.

“I also spoke to the coach of the team, who was very understanding,” Madgwick was quoted as saying. He then approached the protesters and told them, “You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.” The protesters reportedly dispersed within a few minutes.

The incident has also prompted cricket authorities to take the matter seriously. The England and Wales Cricket Board has contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the wellbeing of the visiting players and is reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of the team’s tour.

The Pakistan U19 side had recently faced England U19 in a four-day Test, narrowly losing by 10 runs. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in a one-day match at Arundel on Wednesday, followed by another one-day fixture in Guildford on Saturday.

The episode highlights how heightened tensions surrounding immigration can sometimes lead to serious misunderstandings, particularly when assumptions are made based on appearance or circumstances rather than verified information.