A Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) Panel has sanctioned Hampshire County for failing to comply with the board's pitch regulations. The CDC upheld ECB's charge pertaining to the pitch used for the County Championship clash against Essex at the Ageas Bowl between July 25-27 which was rated 'Below Average' by the Match Referee. As per the sanctions, Hampshire will be immediately deducted three points from their 2023 County Championship tally.

The CDC has also imposed a fine of GBP 5000 as well as a 20-point deduction for the 2024 County Championship season suspended until the last day of that season. These suspended points will be deducted if the club commits any further breach of the Pitch Regulations in relation to the County Championship on or before that date.

Hampshire was charged under Regulation 8.1 of ECB's Pitch Regulations, which requires each County to actively seek to prepare the best quality cricket pitch it can for the match it hosts. In this particular fixture against Essex, the visitors bowled Hampshire out for 120 in the first innings courtesy a Jamie Porter five-wicket haul before folding for 169 themselves. Batting continued to be difficult in the game with Hampshire managing only 131 in the second innings before