PORTSMOUTH, England — A crowd gathered outside a Portsmouth hotel after members of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team were wrongly identified online as asylum seekers, prompting police intervention and a review of security surrounding the young players.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday evening at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel in Cosham, where the Pakistan U19 squad was staying during its cricket tour of England.
Reports and images circulating on social media claimed that several coachloads of migrants had arrived at the hotel. The people seen leaving the coach were actually teenage cricketers and members of Pakistan’s touring staff.
How the Pakistan U19 team became the target of a false claim
The confusion reportedly began when a coach carrying the Pakistan squad was seen arriving at the hotel. According to Reform UK councillor George Madgwick, the vehicle resembled one used to transport asylum seekers who had been brought ashore in Portsmouth days earlier.
Online posts then incorrectly claimed that groups of migrants were being accommodated at the Marriott. Some people responding to those claims travelled to the hotel, with several reportedly wearing masks or other face coverings.
Madgwick, who leads the Reform UK group on Hampshire County Council, went to the hotel and spoke with its management. He said the team’s coach also provided confirmation that the guests were members of Pakistan’s youth cricket squad.
After establishing their identity, Madgwick addressed the gathering and explained that the information being circulated was incorrect. The crowd left within minutes.
Hampshire Police said officers attended after being informed that people were beginning to congregate near the hotel. Officers spoke to those present and explained that their concerns about the coach were unfounded.
Police estimated that around 30 people had gathered and said no offences were identified. Other reports put the number closer to 40 or 50. There was reportedly no direct confrontation between the protesters and the Pakistani players.
One less widely reported detail was the presence of drones flying near the hotel during the gathering. Madgwick said he had seen them but did not know who was operating them.
The mistaken identification came shortly after the Portsmouth migrant arrival triggered protests and clashes near the city’s port, leaving tensions high and encouraging unverified claims about where those brought ashore were being transported.
ECB reviews security for Pakistan’s young cricketers
The England and Wales Cricket Board contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the welfare of the players following the incident. The ECB is also reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of the squad’s tour.
Pakistan’s Under-19 team had played England U19 in a four-day match before the hotel gathering, losing a close contest by 10 runs. The squad was due to play subsequent one-day matches at Arundel and Guildford.
Staying in or around Portsmouth is not unusual for visiting teams playing at Arundel, which is approximately 25 miles from the city. The team’s arrival at the hotel was therefore part of its scheduled sporting tour rather than any government accommodation operation.
The incident also highlighted how quickly an unsupported social-media claim can produce a real-world gathering. The original allegation was shared before the identity of the hotel guests had been checked with the hotel, cricket authorities or police.
According to The Guardian’s account of the Portsmouth incident, Madgwick described the misunderstanding as “massively unfortunate” and said it did not reflect the city as a welcoming place.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had publicly announced the U19 tour months before the squad arrived in England, including its scheduled fixtures against England’s youth team.
The young players continued their tour after the gathering dispersed. Cricket authorities had not reported any injuries or direct physical contact involving members of the squad.
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