Top English all-rounder skips first-class cricket for PSL

English cricketer James Vince has decided to skip first-class cricket for the 2025 season to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He made this decision despite the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new rules regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs).

Vince will continue to lead Hampshire's T20 team but has stepped down as club captain after nine years and will not participate in the County Championship this summer.

The 33-year-old has been retained by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL draft. In November, the ECB announced that it would issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs)—required for players to join overseas leagues—only to white-ball players for tournaments held during the English cricket season.

With the PCB moving the PSL to April-May, Vince had the choice to either miss the PSL and lose out on the financial opportunity or change his Hampshire contract to focus solely on white-ball cricket. He opted for the latter, a decision the club confirmed on Wednesday.

Vince is the first major player to make a big career decision in response to the ECB's new policy. While unlikely to add to his 13 Test caps at age 33, his decision is significant. He has been a key player for Hampshire since 2015, scoring 29 centuries and averaging 41.22 in his 197 first-class games.

Meanwhile, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, signed by Peshawar Zalmi, may follow Vince’s lead by switching to a white-ball contract to participate in the PSL. He is currently in talks with Somerset and the ECB for clarification.

A number of players have been upset since the ECB announced its new policy in November, with some even threatening to take legal action. 

The ECB, however, has remained firm in its decision. Chief Executive Richard Gould stated that the policy is supposed to protect English cricket and prioritise the sport’s overall interests over individual players' preferences.