DA asks ICC to probe claims that U19 Cricket World Cup under threat
The DA has written to the ICC to investigate claims that the Under-19 World Cup is under security threat, which could be exacerbated if David Teeger captains the South African side.
The captains of the nations participating in the 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa pose for a picture ahead of the start of the tournament on 19 January 2024. Picture: @cricketworldcup/X
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to world cricket body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) to investigate claims that the Under-19 World Cup is under security threat, which could be exacerbated if David Teeger captains the South African side.
Teeger, who is Jewish, was stripped of the captaincy by Cricket South Africa (CSA), which has said this decision was unrelated to Teeger’s views on Israel’s war on Gaza.
Rather, CSA said it wanted to minimise disruptions that could result from protests expected during the tournament.
The World Cup starts on Friday and will be played at several venues across the country.
But DA MP Veronica van Dyk is not buying CSA's reasons for relieving Teeger of the captaincy and is questioning CSA's security information.
"The DA seeks clarification on whether Cricket South Africa has informed the ICC of these threats, whether other member states are aware of them, and whether the tournament is deemed safe for hosting."
Van Dyk said her party believed CSA had caved to political pressure from the African National Congress (ANC) in this matter.
"The DA also calls on the ICC to investigate political interference of the ANC government in international cricket, which is prohibited, and to ensure that such political interference never occurs in cricket again."
The DA said CSA members involved in taking decisions in this matter should resign.