Vince, 33, has remained with Karachi Kings ahead of Monday’s PSL draft. The ECB announced last November that it would only grant NOCs (documents required for players to play in overseas leagues) to white-ball specialists for tournaments held during the English season, excluding the IPL.
The new policy and the PCB’s decision to shift its flagship tournament to the new April-May period left Vince with one of two options: skip the PSL at significant financial cost or renegotiate the final year of his Hampshire contract and become a white player. I had a choice. Ball expert. He chose the latter, a move confirmed by the club on Wednesday morning.
“I love Hampshire.” Vince said. “This has been my club and home for 16 years, so I want to continue to give my best for Hampshire in T20 cricket and build on my success in the competition (Blast). I also need to understand what needs to be done. “What’s best for my family and combine that with the stage of my career that I’m at now.”
Hampshire cited Vince’s decision to relocate his family to Dubai, where he now plays for the Gulf Giants, after a series of unexplained attacks on their homes in the county last year as a key factor in his new signing. “I’m so grateful to everyone at Utilita Bowl who supported me during a really difficult time last year and helped me get to the next level,” Vince said.
Hampshire’s director of cricket, Giles White, has asked the club’s supporters to understand Vince’s decision. “James has been at the heart of the club for the past 20 years and has shown absolute commitment both on and off the pitch as the team’s leading batsman and captain,” he said.
“We know this announcement will come as a disappointment to many of our fans, but we hope everyone joins us in celebrating what he has given to our club over the years and supports him as he delivers on his promise to continue leading the Hawks to the 2025 Vitality Blast. “
Vince is the first high-profile player to make a major career decision under the ECB’s new policy, and his move is significant even if the 33-year-old is unlikely to add to his 13 Test caps. He has captained Hampshire since 2015 and has been a key part of the batting line-up, scoring 2900 runs in 197 first-class matches at an average of 41.22.
