The Cricket South Africa has denied antisemitism accusations made by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies after the board stripped David Teeger of the SA Under-19 team captaincy.

“Cricket South Africa finds the accusations of antisemitism levelled against it by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies as without any basis and rejects them with the contempt they deserve,” the governing body told CNN on Thursday.

Teeger, who is Jewish, was removed as captain because of fears over “protests related to the war in Gaza” during the U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The event would start in South Africa on Friday.

In the recent past, the 19-year-old cricketer has made comments in support of the Israel Defense Forces.

The SAJBD also called for the International Cricket Council to intervene, but it has rejected the demand.

“Team selection including captaincy is an issue for Members and not the ICC. An international federation is not constituted to intervene in team selections,” the ICC said.