Cricket team mistaken for asylum seekers in Portsmouth

A group of anti-immigrant protesters gathered outside a hotel in Portsmouth on Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026, mistakenly believing the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team staying there were asylum seekers. The demonstration dispersed after a local councillor intervened to clarify the misunderstanding. The incident occurred at the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth after online rumors circulated about the arrival of foreign nationals. Protesters, numbering around 30 to 40 according to one report, gathered outside the hotel. Hampshire Police were notified and officers attended the scene. They spoke with the protesters, who were expressing concerns about a coach seen in the area. Police confirmed that the protesters' concerns were incorrect, and the crowd dispersed shortly afterward. A police spokesman stated that no offenses were identified during the incident. George Madgwick, a local councillor, contacted the hotel to verify the situation. After confirming with hotel management and the team's coach that the group was indeed the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team, he informed the protesters.