England Protesters Mistake Pakistan U19 Cricket Team for Migrants, Surround Hotel
Sajid Ali | 10th Sep, 2026 | 01:24 PM
An angry crowd of 30 to 40 people gathered outside a hotel in Portsmouth, Britain, after a social media rumour spread that a new group of illegal migrants had arrived by bus. They mistakenly believed these individuals were migrants, despite them being Pakistan’s national Under-19 cricket team.
According to the BBC, the incident unfolded on Tuesday evening when local far-right protesters surrounded the Marriott Hotel, thinking the Asian players were illegal immigrants. A resident had seen the players getting off a bus and shared a photograph without verifying it on social media, triggering the protest.
A large number of Hampshire police officers intervened as the situation escalated. Police officials dispelled the protesters’ fears by revealing that the information was false. Local councillor George Medgok confirmed, after meeting with the hotel manager and team coach, that the individuals were indeed the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team.
Amanda Martin, a Labour Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, condemned the incident as highly inappropriate and concerning. She stated, "It is completely unacceptable that young athletes visiting our city have been targeted based on misinformation and rumours. The immigration debate should be conducted with facts, not unfounded misconceptions."
Following this shameful event, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ensured the safety of the Pakistani junior cricketers and reviewed their security measures for the remainder of the tour. The hotel management declined to make an official statement regarding the incident.
