- By Sunny Daud
- Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team was caught up in an unusual situation in Portsmouth after a group of protesters mistakenly identified the young cricketers as asylum seekers.
The incident took place outside the Marriott Hotel, where the Pakistan team was staying during its tour of England. Around 30 to 40 people gathered near the hotel on Tuesday evening after an online post sparked speculation that a group of foreign nationals had arrived in the area by coach.
Police Called As Confusion Grows
Hampshire Constabulary was called shortly before 6.30 pm as the crowd gathered outside the hotel. Officers eventually established that the people at the centre of the speculation were members of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team.
Reform councillor George Madgwick then contacted the hotel and spoke to the Pakistan team’s coach to establish what had happened. After confirming that the group were cricketers, he went outside and explained the situation to the protesters.
Madgwick later described the episode as an unfortunate misunderstanding.
“I spoke to the coach of the team, who was very understanding,” he said. “I went out to the protesters and told them, ‘You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.’ They left within a couple of minutes.”
How The False Assumption Started
The incident appears to have originated from a photograph shared online showing people getting off a coach. Without any confirmation about who they were, speculation quickly spread that the group were asylum seekers.
Madgwick said the entire episode was based on assumptions rather than verified information.
“Someone online saw a group of what looked like foreign nationals leaving the coach and put a photo of it online and that’s where it spurred from,” he told the BBC. “It was mere speculation rather than based on truth or fact.”
Police later confirmed that officers spoke with those gathered outside the hotel and explained that their concerns were misplaced. No offences were reported, and the crowd dispersed shortly before 9pm.
MP Criticises Misinformation
The incident also drew a reaction from Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, who said young cricketers should not have been caught up in a protest fuelled by unverified claims.
Martin acknowledged that immigration remains a legitimate subject for public debate but stressed that such discussions need to be based on facts rather than rumours.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has also checked on the wellbeing of the Pakistan Under-19 players and is reviewing security arrangements for the rest of their tour.
Pakistan U-19 Team Continues England Tour
The incident comes as Pakistan’s Under-19 side continues its tour of England, while the senior Pakistan team is also involved in a Test series against England.
Pakistan’s youngsters recently suffered a narrow 10-run defeat against England Under-19 in a four-day match in Arundel. They bounced back strongly in the Youth ODI, securing a convincing 177-run victory on September 9.