South African Under-19 cricket captain stood down over pro-Israel stance

Young South African cricketer David Teeger has been removed as the country’s Under-19 team captain on the eve of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Cricket South Africa cited threats to Teeger, who is Jewish, and the team over Israel’s war in Gaza ahead of the tournament, which South Africa is hosting.

“We have been advised that protests related to the war in Gaza can be anticipated at the venues for the tournament. We have also been advised that they are likely to focus on … David Teeger,” the organisation said in a statement.

“CSA has decided that David should be relieved of the captaincy for the tournament,” Cricket South Africa added. “This is in the best interests of all the players, the SA U19 team, and David himself.” The statement said he would remain an “important and active member” of the team.

Cricket South Africa had previously suspended Teeger while it investigated hate speech allegations against him after he expressed support for Israeli soldiers following October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel.

On October 22 last year, Teeger was named Rising Star at the ABSA Jewish Achiever Awards ceremony. In his acceptance speech, Teeger dedicated his award to Israel.

“But more importantly, yes, I’ve been awarded this award, and yes, I am now the rising star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel… So I’d like to dedicate this award to the South African family that married off one son whilst the other is still missing,” Teeger said, as reported by South African Jewish Report, and subsequently published across South Africa media.

“And I’d like to dedicate it to the state of Israel and to every single soldier fighting so that we can live and thrive in the diaspora.”

As a response to the pro-Israel comments, the Palestine Solidarity Alliance filed a complaint with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. On November 27, Cricket South Africa, in a press release, stated that they had considered the complaint, and appointed an independent enquiry to be adjudicated by Adv Wim Trengove SC to determine whether Teeger had breached either the CSA or Central Gauteng Lions Codes of Conduct.

On December 7, Teeger was cleared to continue as captain by Trengove.

The national chair of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, Karen Milner, accused the sporting body of discrimination.

“The decision by Cricket South Africa to relieve David Teeger of his Under-19 captaincy of the World Cup team starting next week in South Africa is an outrageous act of antisemitism,” Milner said.

“There is no basis for this decision, other than the fact that Teeger is Jewish.

“This is not the first time that Jews have been excluded from sporting bodies in our history. The SAJBD will do everything in its power to fight against this vicious prejudice.”

South Africa were named hosts in November, after Sri Lanka Cricket, the original hosts, were suspended by the ICC due to political interference in their governance.

Strong anti-Israel sentiment in South Africa has been in the spotlight as the International Court of Justice hears genocide charges brought against Israel by the South African government. Many pro-Palestinian activists claim that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is apartheid, a term originally referring to the bygone regime of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa. About 50,000 Jews live in South Africa; many say they hope to emigrate, citing anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment as well as other other challenges.