Home / Sports / Asylum Seekers Mistaken for Cricket Team in Hotel Protest
Asylum Seekers Mistaken for Cricket Team in Hotel Protest
10 Sep
Summary
- Masked protesters wrongly targeted a hotel expecting asylum seekers.
- The individuals at the hotel were Pakistan's Under-19 cricket team.
- Misinformation spread due to the same transport company being used.
A protest involving around 40 masked individuals outside a Portsmouth hotel was based on a mistaken belief that asylum seekers were present. The gathering dispersed after it was clarified that the hotel was accommodating members of Pakistan's Under-19 cricket team, who are touring England. Reform councillor George Madgwick intervened, speaking with hotel management and the team's coach to confirm the players' identities.
The misunderstanding was exacerbated because the coach transporting the cricketers belonged to the same company previously used to transport asylum seekers arriving in Portsmouth. This fueled local anxiety amidst rising tensions in the city, which recently saw clashes between crowds and police following the arrival of asylum seekers.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to ensure the players' well-being and is reviewing security measures for the remainder of their tour. The Pakistan Under-19 team is scheduled for further matches against England Under-19 in the coming days.
