CDC sanction Hampshire following 'below average' pitch

A Cricket Discipline Commission Panel has sanctioned Hampshire CCL for breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations.

The ECB charged Hampshire with failing to comply with Regulation 8.1 of the ECB Pitch Regulations, which requires each County to actively seek to prepare the best quality cricket pitch that it can for the match that it is staging.

The charge related to the pitch used in the club’s home LV= Insurance County Championship match against Essex CCC at The Ageas Bowl between 25-27 July, which was rated 'below average' by the Match Referee.

An independent CDC Panel upheld the charge following a hearing on Wednesday 6 September 2023 and has issued the following sanctions:

1. An immediate 3-point deduction in the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship.
2. A 20-point deduction for the 2024 County Championship season suspended until the last day of that season. These suspended points will be deducted if the club commits any further breach of the Pitch Regulations in relation to the County Championship on or before that date.
3. A fine of £5,000.

The Summary Decision of the CDC Panel is available to read, here.

The CDC Panel will release a fully reasoned decision in due course, after which the parties will have 14 days within which to lodge any appeal.