Pakistan U19 team is in England for a tour with matches across formats.
A Pakistan U19 team suddenly became the center of focus when a group of protesters reportedly mistook them for asylum seekers in Portsmouth, UK. Anti-immigration protesters reportedly gathered outside a hotel in southern England on Tuesday evening, believing that the players staying there were looking for asylum.
The incident occurred in Cosham, a northern suburb of Portsmouth, just two days after demonstrators stopped the disembarkation of scores of migrants near the port and clashed with police in internationally condemned images.
According to the Guardian, the scene grew violent when a mob formed outside the Marriott hotel following allegations that approximately 40 men who did not appear to be English had arrived. George Madgwick, a Reform councillor, summoned the hotel to mediate between Pakistan Under-19 officials and the collected mob, after which the crowd dispersed.
"I spoke to the coach of the team, who was very understanding. 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. From the perspective of the people of Portsmouth who are already on high alert, this was a coach from the same company, which was turning up with about 40 foreign men,” Madgwick told the Guardian.
The ECB has been in touch with the Pakistan management following the incident and is reviewing security arrangements.
Michael Bradley, a national organizer from Stand Up To Racism, condemned the incident, saying it demonstrated “where the scapegoating of refugees and migrants can lead".
“When a Pakistan U-19 team is faced by protests because it ‘might’ in fact be a group of migrants, it means that effectively any group of black or Asian people coming into the city are being seen by the far right as a potential target. It’s obvious where all this is going to end — racist attacks and more violence,” he said.
From September 2 to 5, the Pakistan Under-19 team played a four-day match against England Under-19 in Arundel, losing by 10 runs. On September 9, the two teams played a Youth ODI, which Pakistan won by 177 runs.
On the other hand, the Pakistan senior team is playing the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.
(AFP inputs)