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.”