Bollywood shoot, extreme heat and a 27-point deduction: Leicestershire’s relegation crisis explained

Leicestershire was promoted as County Championship Division Two title winners last season. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Leicestershire’s bid to stay in Division One of the County Championship has been plunged into crisis after the club was docked 27 points for a pitch-regulations breach, with an unscheduled Bollywood filming event at Grace Road among the circumstances cited by the head groundsman before a disciplinary tribunal.

The Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) imposed the penalty midway through Leicestershire’s penultimate match of the season, sending the Foxes to the bottom of the table. The club can appeal the sanction within 10 working days.

Leicestershire head groundsman Callum Lewin told the Cricket Regulator ahead of the tribunal hearing that the pitch used for the victory over Glamorgan had been affected by a combination of circumstances beyond his control.

“It’s a used pitch this time around. We had two T20s on it ten weeks ago,” Lewin said in his interview with the regulator. “There was a lot of circumstances leading up to the game that were just out of my control, such as the weather was 35 degrees and we had an unscheduled Bollywood filming event four days before, and I wasn’t allowed to work on the pitch. I wasn’t allowed to cover it or anything.”

The filming took place at Uptonsteel Grace Road. The pitch was subsequently rated “poor” in the match referee’s report.

The CDP ruled that Leicestershire should forfeit the 19 points it earned from its 42-run victory over Glamorgan, with an additional eight-point deduction — 27 in total — and a £5,000 fine. A further eight-point deduction has been suspended for 12 months.

Leicestershire’s win over Glamorgan three weeks ago had been a significant boost to its survival hopes in its first season back in the top flight after a 22-year absence; before that, the Foxes had won only one match since returning, having gone up as Division Two champions last season.

Leicestershire is currently playing Hampshire at Grace Road in its final home game of the campaign. Hampshire ended the second day on 255 for three in its second innings, a lead of 225. Leicestershire must win to keep its survival hopes alive — if the Foxes fail to beat Hampshire, their relegation to Division Two will be confirmed.

The points deduction has also strengthened the survival prospects of Glamorgan and Essex, who sit immediately above the relegation places.

In a statement, Leicestershire said it “notes the Cricket Discipline Panel’s decision” and is “reviewing its position and considering all available options”.