James Vince slams ECB for favouring IPL over PSL

Vince, 33, was retained by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL draft. But in November 2024, ECB has decided to refrain from issuing NOCs to all-format players to play in the PSL, which is scheduled for April-May this season, because it was clashing with the early rounds of the County Championship.

“When they first mentioned it, a WhatsApp group of players was created and there was a lot of discussion. The initial feeling was that it was going to drive people away from red-ball cricket,” Vince told ESPNCricinfo.

The man you’ve all been waiting for! James Vince has arrived 💙❤️#YehHaiKarachi | #KingsSquad | #KarachiKings pic.twitter.com/hAzPu46Q8A

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 17, 2024

“It felt like it was going to limit opportunities. Players were frustrated by it… There were a few things in there that [we] didn’t really understand.”

The 33-year-old is currently playing for Gulf Giants in the ILT20 tournament in the UAE. The PSL this season clashes with the IPL and also with the County championships.

“That’s a big one that has caused a lot of confusion. It’s got to be something to do with relationships between the ECB, PCB and BCCI as to why they’ve come up with that rule,” Vince said.

“The PSL’s a shorter competition, so if you’re going to play in that, you’re probably missing less domestic cricket than if you’re going to the IPL… It just didn’t seem right.”

Vince, who has played 13 Tests for England is a long-serving Hampshire captain, and has played 197 first-class games across 15 years for the team. He captained them 92 times, and led them to three consecutive top-three finishes.

“I love Hampshire,” Vince said. “It’s been my club and home for 16 years, so I want to be able to maintain my best to keep delivering for Hampshire in T20 cricket, and hopefully even further our success in the competition [the Blast]. I also need to understand what is best for my family, and combine that with the stage of my career I am at.”

Vince believes more players will follow him and forego red-ball contracts.

“There’s more and more opportunities for guys to play white-ball cricket and earn decent money during our domestic season… You’re talking quite large sums of money in terms of what they forego by playing red-ball cricket,” Vince said.

“Particularly further down their careers, when there’s a big difference in those numbers, I’m sure more and more people will go down that route,” he said.