CDC Appeal Panel Ruling on Hampshire Cricket Disciplinary Matter

A Cricket Discipline Commission Appeal Panel has altered the terms of the disciplinary penalty imposed on Hampshire Cricket.

The appeal panel comprising Gerard Elias QC (Chair), HH Edward Slinger and Christopher Tickle convened to hear an appeal by Hampshire against the penalty imposed by the Disciplinary Panel on charges brought by the ECB against Hampshire Cricket in respect of five or more separate occasions when cricketers registered with them committed fixed penalty offences in a 12-month period contrary to Directive 3.5.17.

The essential purpose of Directive 3.5.17 is to ensure that all players and coaches at county clubs are aware of the importance of maintaining high standards of discipline. The appeal panel accepted that the systems for the induction of all players at Hampshire and the inculcation of the importance of good discipline were at the level expected of a first class county.

However the directive 3.5.17 aims to ensure that counties take action when a number of disciplinary incidents have occurred involving their players.

The appeal panel emphasizes the importance of addressing disciplinary issues with the individual player and the playing squad as a whole after each fixed penalty breach and expects that a record of such action be made and retained.

The appeal panel upheld the original points penalty, namely a points deduction of 16 points in the LV= County Championship, 2 points in the NatWest T20 Blast or 2 points in the Royal London One-Day Cup, suspended for a period of 12 months from the date of the disciplinary panel hearing 

The appeal panel, however, determined that the points deduction would only be imposed if a further two fixed penalty breaches were committed by Hampshire players within that 12 month period.  The CDC Chairman would determine to which competition the points deduction would apply. 

The appeal against the financial penalty and costs order was not pursued. No order was made as to the costs of the appeal.