Rishi Sunak discusses 'sting' of racism following fallout from damning cricket report

The Prime Minister has spoken about the “sting” of racism, as he reflected on his love of cricket in the wake of a damning report into the sport. Rishi Sunak, an avid cricket fan, joined the BBC’s Test Match Special programme for an interview during a break in today's Ashes action.

His appearance came days after the long-awaited Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report found racism, sexism and elitism widespread within the sport. Mr Sunak, the first British-Asian occupant of No 10, said it was “sad” reading but offered his backing to the England and Wales Cricket Board and said officials were “absolutely committed to fixing all the problems”.

But he also used the interview, which he said could be his longest grilling since becoming Prime Minister, to reflect on his own experience of racism. "Of course I have experienced racism growing up, in particular, and of course I know it exists,” he said.

“It stings you in a way that very few other things do. And I’m in a job where I take criticism on a daily basis, hourly basis, minute-by-minute basis. It stings you. It does hurt.”

“One time, which I’ve talked about in the past, where I was with my younger brother and sister out and about in Southampton and some people said a bunch of things and I felt doubly bad because I felt bad about it. But I had my younger brother and sister with me and I didn’t want them to hear it and be exposed to it. It was really hard.”

The Prime Minister, who has spoken before about his experience of racism, said that Britain had changed as a country. “One thing I take comfort from is I think the things that happened to me when I was a kid, I think they wouldn’t happen to my kids today, because I think we’ve just made incredible progress as