The Palestinian Solidarity Alliance has demanded an apology from former SA U19 captain David Teeger.
The 19-year-old was on Friday “relieved” of the role by CSA for “safety” reasons, relating to pro-Israel comments he made when receiving the Rising Star of the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards in November.
“Yes, I’ve been given this award, and yes, I’m now the Rising Star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel,” he said.
Israel is currently fighting a war against Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, following the terrorist attack on 7 October.
The PSA laid a complaint regarding Teegar’s comments with CSA, who appointed an independent inquiry.
While the inquiry found that Teeger had not breached the CSA or Lions codes of conducts by making pro-Israel comments, CSA said the threat of protests related to the war in Gaza during the upcoming U19 World Cup prompted it to act.
READ: Teeger ‘relieved’ of SA U19 captaincy
On Friday, the PSA’s Naazim Adams confirmed to News24 that an application had been submitted to stage a peaceful protest at the opening match of the tournament between South Africa and the West Indies in Potchefstroom on on 19 January.
Adams added that the PSA was not satisfied with CSA’s actions.
“Has David accepted that he’s done wrong and inflamed the cricket-loving community, and that his actions have been divisive?
“Has CSA not recognised that David has brought the game into disrepute? Until Teeger apologises, we’re not happy.
“CSA are the real culprits here and they’re being disingenuous by dropping him as captain because of threats.”
Adams insisted that while Teeger “can’t be captain”, the PSA did not “want to destroy the young man”.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
