The Pakistan U-19 team faced a protest in Portsmouth after protesters mistook them for asylum seekers. The situation turned chaotic after around 30-40 people gathered outside the Marriott Hotel, where the Pakistan team was staying, after rumours spread that a group of foreign nationals had arrived coach.
The police arrived at the scene and explained to the protesters that the group concerned is the U19 team, who are touring England for a four-match youth ODI series.
The situation was calmed after Reform councillor George Madgwick contacted the hotel and spoke with the Pakistan head coach. He then conveyed the information to the protesters and called the incident unfortunate.
“I spoke to the coach of the team, who was very understanding,” Madgwick told the Guardian.
“I went out to the protesters and told them, ‘You’ve got it wrong, guys; it’s a cricket club.’ They left within a couple of minutes. It was a massively unfortunate incident.”
‘It Was Mere Speculation Than Based On Fact’
Madgwick said that the unfortunate incident unfolded after someone posted a picture of foreign nationals getting off the coach, saying that the situation was driven by speculation rather than fact.
“Someone online saw a group of what looked like foreign nationals leaving the coach and put a photo of it online, and that’s where it stemmed from,” he told the BBC. “It was mere speculation rather than based on truth or fact.”
The incident invited criticism from Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, who said, “There is a legitimate debate to be had about immigration, but it must be based on facts, not misinformation or rumour,” Martin said.
The England and Wales Cricket Board checked on the Pakistan U19 team and reviewed the security arrangements for the remainder of the series.
Meanwhile, along with the U19 team, the senior team is also on the tour to England; however, they’ve been hammered by hosts England, starting a 3-0 defeat in the Test series.