Leicestershire have seen eight points of their 27-point County Championship deduction reinstated, though their Division One status remains in limbo. The initial penalty, issued on 16 September, was for breaching pitch regulations during their August win against Glamorgan.
The Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) had originally applied an additional eight-point deduction, alongside a further eight-point penalty suspended for a year and a £5,000 fine. The eight-point deduction for this season has now been waived, as the 19-point penalty for winning the game is considered sufficient punishment. The suspended penalty and fine remain part of the amended decision.
Leicestershire had taken 19 points from the Glamorgan match, which were removed and are still subject to appeal. Without the full 27-point deduction, the team would have finished two points clear of relegation. However, with the 19-point penalty currently in place, the Foxes are 17 points behind Essex and face relegation if their appeal is unsuccessful.
The amended decision followed the Cricket Regulator raising concerns with the CDP about whether the 19-point penalty, imposed under the County Championship's playing conditions, had been considered in the original ruling. Leicestershire's chief executive, Emma White, stated that the club's intention to appeal remains "unchanged" by this latest decision.