news-engine

A group of masked protesters gathered outside a Portsmouth hotel after mistakenly believing members of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team were asylum seekers. Around 40 people assembled outside the four-star Marriott Hotel on Tuesday evening following reports on social media that a coach had delivered a group of foreign men. George Madgwick, who leads the Reform UK group on Hampshire County Council and represents the area, was called to the hotel to mediate. He spoke to the hotel manager and the team’s coach and was shown proof that the guests were cricketers touring England. He then told the protesters: “You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.” They dispersed within minutes. Mr Madgwick described it as a “massively unfortunate incident” and said it did not make Portsmouth look like the welcoming city it was. The incident followed Sunday night’s disorder near Eastney Marina after around 140 migrants rescued from a dinghy south of the Isle of Wight were brought ashore. The England and Wales Cricket Board contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the young players and is reviewing security for the remainder of their tour.