Bungling anti-immigration protestors left red-faced after demonstrating outside hotel where Pakistani cricket team were staying

Anti-immigration protestors in Portsmouth staged another demonstration outside a hotel where they believed asylum seekers were being held – only to discover it was Pakistan's under-19 cricket team.A crowd of up to 50 bungling demonstrators gathered outside the four-star Marriot hotel in the port city's Cosham suburb last night, wrongly believing that 'four coach loads' of migrants were being taken there just days after asylum seekers were taken ashore nearby.Some 120 migrants had been taken ashore on Sunday night, with around 500 protesters staging a demonstration outside Eastney Landing.However, the crowd outside the hotel last night was left red-faced after staff informed them that it was in fact housing a cricket team visiting from Pakistan.The coach passengers were actually members of the country's under-19 cricket team and support staff who are currently on tour and playing against England's under-19s.Sunday's protests featured black-shirted men wearing balaclavas, with police saying that several of their officers were injured during the night.Councillor George Madgwick, the Reform UK Group Leader on Hampshire County Council, confirmed in a social media post that protestors last night believed a coach at the hotel was full of migrants. Protestors gathered outside the Portsmouth Marriott on last night after mistaking a visiting Pakistani cricket team for migrantsThe Pakistan under-19s team pictured on the fourth and final day of their Test against England last week The Pakistani Under-19s cricket team have been based at the Marriott while playing in Arundel, West Sussex, over the last few days. But in an online post, local Chris Lawrence wrongly stated that he saw 'Four coachloads of migrants being loaded into the Marriott Hotel near Port Solent.'In his own post, Mr Madgwick said: 'There were reports that possible migrants were staying in the Marriott hotel. I can confirm that is NOT the case. Please don't attend the hotel.'A number of concerned local residents spotted what they believed to be migrants going into the Marriott hotel. A number of you messaged me and asked me to come down. I spoke to the hotel and they agreed to meet me.'Within an hour I was in attendance. Spoke to the crowd forming, who were all respectful and calm – but concerned. The man leading the crowd was very clear they must remain on public land, stay calm, no drinking, no abuse.'I visited the manager and the hotel explained it was a Pakistani cricket team staying. The cricket team coach came to speak to me personally and I saw proof (hotel were happy to provide).'I then went to speak to the crowd gathering of 40/50 people and confirmed with them and assured them that it was a cricket team.'He said the crowd 'respectfully accepted that' and dispersed within five minutes.Mr Madgwick added: 'I'm glad I could do my bit to help the situation and stop tensions rising. But the government need to understand why things like this happen. Hundreds of protestors gathered at Eastney on Sunday and attempted to block coaches that were due to take the arriving migrants for processing'It's not because the protestors and crowds are bad people – quite the opposite. It's because they care deeply about their community and area and see it crumbling before their eyes. 'Local residents just want to protect the city they love in the best way they know how.'If the government don't get a grip on this boat crisis we will see this more and more.'The England and Wales Cricket Board has since contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the wellbeing of those involved, and are reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of the under-19s' tour. The incident came on the eve of the third test match between England and Pakistan which began at Edgbaston, Birmingham, this morning.Two police vehicles remained stationed outside the RNLI's Eastney base yesterday after reports emerged that the charity was being targeted for its involvement in the rescue of the 120 migrants.The RNLI said some of its volunteers have been on the receiving end of physical and online abuse. Chief executive Peter Sparkes criticised those who 'hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard' whose actions were 'wholly unacceptable'.He said: 'Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel. Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.'It has been revealed that prior to arrival at Eastney Landing, RNLI lifeboats were denied entry to the larger Southampton Port and Portsmouth Harbour and threatened with legal action if they approached.Alexis Boon, Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, said protesters caused 'some serious problems' and a small number of officers were treated for injuries. He said police 'will go after' individuals once they have been identified.