Crowd Reaches Pakistan Under-19 Team's Hotel Floor After False Rumour

A group of people reached the hotel floor where members of Pakistan's under-19 cricket team were staying in Portsmouth after protesters wrongly believed the visitors were migrants, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board. BBC News reported that the incident occurred at the Marriott Hotel in Cosham during the team's tour of England.

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About 30 to 40 people gathered outside the hotel on Tuesday evening after false claims circulated that a coach carrying migrants had arrived. PCB chief operating officer Sumair Syed said team members reported people knocking on their doors. He said the young players acted responsibly and did not escalate the situation.

Hampshire Police said officers found that no offences had been committed. The crowd dispersed by approximately 21:00 BST, and the Pakistan under-19 side proceeded with its scheduled match the following day. Syed did not provide further details about what was said by those who reached the team's floor.

Syed said he remained in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board after the incident. According to his account, the ECB gave assurances that all possible measures would be taken to protect the team and its escort. The BBC also reported that the governing body had checked on the squad's wellbeing and was reviewing security arrangements for the rest of the tour.

Reform county councillor George Madgwick, who attended the scene, said hotel staff showed him evidence that the guests were visiting cricketers. He urged people online not to travel to the hotel and described the episode as the result of speculation rather than verified information. Madgwick called the mistaken identification a grave error and said it reflected badly on the city.

Amanda Martin, the Labour MP for Portsmouth North, described the incident as deeply concerning and said misinformation had led to young visiting cricketers being wrongly targeted. The gathering came two days after a separate protest in Portsmouth followed the arrival of a boat carrying about 120 migrants. The hotel declined to comment on the incident.