Leicestershire fight on as eight points cut from pitch penalty by tribunal

CDP withdraws additional penalty as appeal to stay in first division continues

Leicestershire insist their bid to remain in the first division of the County Championship is not over, after the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) waived eight points of the club's original 27-point penalty for the 'poor' pitch prepared for their home win against Glamorgan in August.

Leicestershire learned last week that they would be penalised for the pitch prepared for their 42-run win at Grace Road on August 20-23, after match referee Ian Ramage provided 43 examples of uneven bounce in his match log. They were docked the 19 points that they earned in the match under County Championship playing condition 16.2.6, plus a further eight points by the CDP.

However, the Cricket Regulator admitted in a separate hearing that it had not considered the implications of its judgement at an initial tribunal. The Regulator also ceded they had "no jurisdiction or power to alter the automatic application of playing condition 16.2.6", which they did by recommending an additional eight-point deduction in their initial investigation.

Leicestershire's slim hopes of staying in the top flight appeared to have ended with their defeat by an innings and 79 runs against Warwickshire, the 2026 champions, at Edgbaston on Saturday.

That result meant Essex finished 25 points clear in eighth place, on 136 to 111, having themselves looked set for a sixth defeat in eight games until rain saved them on the final day of their own fixture against Glamorgan at Cardiff on Sunday.

Although the CDP amended its initial verdict, and withdrew the additional eight-point penalty that was imposed at the original hearing on September 15, it is not yet sufficient to overturn the deficit to Essex.

"In the interests of fairness and transparency, the Cricket Regulator raised this issue with the CDP and Leicestershire CCC," a statement read. "The CDP has now considered this issue and adjusted their decision on the sanction accordingly."

Emma White, Leicestershire's chief executive, insists that the club will continue to fight the sanction, and has instructed counsel Craig Harris and Oliver Laurence of Periculum Sport to act for the club throughout the appeal process, having initially fought the charge without legal representation.

"The Panel made clear that the latest hearing and Amended Decision, which relates to the sanction alone, were not appeal proceedings," White said in a statement issued by the club.

"Our position on the charge is therefore unchanged. We continue to believe it should not have been upheld, and that we ought not to have suffered the points deduction we have. We therefore still intend to appeal, focusing upon the process and resultant evidential position upon which the Panel was caused to decide the case."

The Cricket Regulator confirmed that the window for appeal is still open.