Portsmouth: An anti-immigration protest in southern England took an extraordinary turn when protesters mistakenly identified Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team as asylum seekers staying at a hotel in Portsmouth.
Around 40 protesters reportedly gathered outside the Marriott hotel on Tuesday evening, with several wearing masks or balaclavas. The demonstration was based on reports and social-media speculation that asylum seekers had been accommodated at the hotel.
But the people inside were not asylum seekers. They were members of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team, who are in England for a cricket tour.
Reform UK councillor George Madgwick, whose ward includes the hotel, was called to the scene. He contacted the hotel manager and the Pakistan team's coach, who confirmed the identity of the group and provided evidence that they were cricketers.
Once the protesters were informed of the mistake, the gathering dispersed peacefully. Police said no offences were identified during the incident.
The Pakistan U-19 side had been staying at the hotel as part of its England tour and had recently played a four-day Test against England. The team was due to continue its tour with another match in Guildford.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions around immigration in southern England, where anti-immigration demonstrations have intensified in recent days.
The Portsmouth incident was reportedly fuelled by social-media posts and speculation about foreign-looking men arriving at the hotel. The protesters acted on that assumption before the identities of the hotel guests were established.
The incident has also raised concerns about how misinformation surrounding migrants can quickly translate into confrontation.
The England and Wales Cricket Board contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board following the incident to ensure the team's welfare, with security arrangements reportedly being reviewed.
What began as an anti-immigration protest therefore ended with an awkward revelation: the people protesters believed were asylum seekers were actually teenage cricketers visiting England to play cricket.