In spite of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new No-Objection Certificates (NOC) policy, James Vince has chosen to retire from first-class cricket for the 2025 season, allowing him to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Vince has given up his position as club captain after nine seasons and will not play in the County Championship this summer, although he will still lead Hampshire in T20 cricket.

The Karachi Kings kept the 33-year-old before Monday’s PSL draft. With the exception of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ECB’s new policy, which was unveiled in November, limits NOCs for foreign competitions that take place during the English domestic season. Vince had to decide whether to miss the PSL and suffer large financial losses or change the last year of his Hampshire contract to concentrate just on white-ball cricket as the PSL had been moved to April or May. Hampshire revealed on Wednesday that he chose the latter.

Vince said, “I love Hampshire,” according to ESPNcricinfo.

Since it has been my home and club for 16 years, I want to be able to continue giving my all for Hampshire in T20 cricket and, ideally, further our success in the league [the Blast].” Along with considering my professional stage, I also need to know what’s best for my family,” he said.

Hampshire said that one of the main reasons for Vince’s choice was his move to Dubai, where he presently plays for the Gulf Giants in the International League T20 (ILT20). This comes after a slew of mysterious events that targeted his Hampshire house last year.

“I am so grateful to everyone at Utilita Bowl for supporting me last year through a really tough time, and for allowing me to make this next step,” Vince stated, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Giles White, the director of cricket for Hampshire, praised Vince’s services to the team and asked supporters to back his choice.

“James has been at the heart of the club for the best part of 20 years, showing absolute commitment on and off the field as the team’s leading batter and captain,” he said.

“We recognise that this announcement will be tinged with disappointment for many fans but hope everyone will join us in celebrating what he has given to our club over many years and supporting him as he fulfils his commitment to continue leading the Hawks in the 2025 Vitality Blast,” he said.

Vince is the first well-known athlete to change his career trajectory in reaction to the ECB’s policies. His exit from first-class cricket is noteworthy, despite the fact that he had little opportunity of adding to his 13 Test caps. Vince has been a key performer since taking over as Hampshire captain in 2015. In 197 first-class games, he has averaged 41.22 and scored 29 hundreds.

A similar move is apparently being considered by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who signed a lucrative contract with Peshawar Zalmi at Monday’s PSL draft. To find out whether he has to go to a white-ball contract in order to get a NOC, he is now in talks with Somerset and the ECB.

Players have reacted negatively to the ECB’s stance, which was implemented to give English domestic cricket priority. Some have threatened legal action. Richard Gould, the CEO of the ECB, justified the decision, saying it is meant to safeguard English cricket and that the interests of the sport as a whole must take precedence above personal preferences.

In addition, Hampshire will embark on a new era in 2025 under the ownership of the GMR Group, who also control the Delhi Capitals of the IPL. Subject to achieving the ECB’s appraisal, the company is anticipated to buy Southern Brave, The Hundred team situated at the Ageas Bowl, after purchasing the club from Rod Bransgrove last year for a multi-million-pound transaction.