British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated he was “sad” to learn a damning report that claimed racism and sexism are rife inside English cricket.
The publication of the Independent Commission report into Equity in Cricket got here within the wake of a racism scandal centred across the therapy of Pakistan-born bowler Azeem Rafiq at English aspect Yorkshire.
Rafiq went public with allegations of racism and bullying in 2020, prompting the England and Wales Cricket Board to fee the report.
Six former Yorkshire gamers discovered responsible of utilizing racist language within the Rafiq case have been final month fined by the Cricket Discipline Commission.
READ: ECB recommends £500,000 high-quality for Yorkshire after cricket racism scandal
Of the greater than 4,000 people interviewed for the ICEC report, 50 p.c described experiencing discrimination within the earlier 5 years, with the figures considerably larger for individuals from ethnically numerous communities.
Women have been typically handled as “second-class citizens”, the report discovered, additionally stating that not sufficient had been accomplished to deal with class limitations, with non-public faculties dominating the pathway into cricket.
Appearing on BBC Radio in the course of the second Test between England and Australia at Lord’s on Saturday, Sunak stated: “It was, for people who love cricket, really hard to read and you were just sad.”
A complete of 44 suggestions have been made within the report, together with a name for equal pay for female and male worldwide gamers by 2030.
Sunak stated the ECB was “absolutely committed” to fixing the issues outlined within the report.
“I have spent a little bit of the morning talking to the team at the ECB and I think they have approached it in exactly the right way,” he stated.
“They commissioned this report off their own back because they wanted to be proactive so they deserve credit for that.”
Sunak hopes the report gives cricket with an opportunity to reset its ethical compass.
“They have offered an unreserved apology and are fully committed to implementing change and for this to be a reset moment for cricket,” he stated.
“We all want it to be open for everybody from all backgrounds and where everyone can feel respect and supported when playing it.
“So that’s what we want and I’m confident the whole cricketing family share that ambition.”
Sunak, the primary British Asian Prime Minister, stated he had endured his personal issues concerning racism, though he acknowledged the progress made on the difficulty within the United Kingdom.
“Of course I have experienced racism growing up, in particular, and of course I know it exists,” he stated.
“It stings you in a way that very few other things do. It stings you. It does hurt.”
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com