World
Protesters outside Portsmouth hotel mistake Pakistan under-19 cricket team for asylum seekers
September 10, 2026 at 07:59 AM · Updated 36d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 24 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
Pakistan U19 cricketers mistaken for asylum seekers by protesters in UK
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Group entered hotel where Pakistani cricketers mistaken for migrants were staying
(opens the publisher’s site)BNBBC News
Crowd gathers outside hotel containing Pakistan under-19 cricket team
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Protesters outside Portsmouth hotel mistake Pakistan U19 cricket team for asylum seekers
(opens the publisher’s site)Protesters gathered outside a Portsmouth hotel on Tuesday after false suspicions that asylum seekers had arrived by coach, when the guests were the Pakistan under-19 cricket team.
- About 30 to 40 masked protesters gathered outside the Marriott Hotel in Cosham after false rumours that asylum seekers had arrived by coach.
- Reform councillor George Madgwick said the coach transporting the men belonged to the same company that had moved asylum seekers, and that hotel staff showed him proof the guests were cricketers.
- Hampshire Constabulary said officers explained that the crowd's concerns "were not correct" and that no offences were identified.
- Amanda Martin said it was "completely unacceptable" that misinformation led to young cricketers being wrongly targeted and mistaken for asylum seekers.
Latest developments
- Sep 10 — The ECB has confirmed it is reviewing the team's security for the remainder of the tour and has contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board.
- Sep 10 — PCB chief operating officer Sumair Syed said the players behaved responsibly and did not escalate the situation.
- Sep 10 — The team won their scheduled match the following day by 177 runs.