Leicestershire docked 16 points for dissent

The Foxes, bottom of the Second Division, pleaded guilty at a cricket disciplinary commission panel hearing

Leicestershire’s chief executive, Wasim Khan, described the points loss as ‘severe’ (Getty)

Struggling Leicestershire have described yesterday’s decision to deduct them 16 County Championship points for dissent as “severe”.

The Foxes, bottom of the Second Division, pleaded guilty at a cricket disciplinary commission panel hearing to a charge that there had been five or more occasions when cricketers committed fixed-penalty offences.

According to Leicestershire chief executive, Wasim Khan: “The hearing related to five incidents reported by umpires over the last 12 months that were deemed to show a level of dissent to the umpires or opposition players.” The hearing also fined them £5,000 – suspended for 12 months – and ordered them to pay £500 costs.

Leicestershire won their first home match since 2012 this week, but were already 16 points behind second-bottom Kent before the punishment was imposed.

Khan said: “We believe the sanction imposed is severe. Unfortunately there is no platform for us to appeal any of the reported incidents.”

However, he added: “The players have a duty to behave on the field as well as off the field and so this is simply not acceptable to us. We will brush ourselves off and remain determined to do everything possible to improve every aspect of the club.”