In November 2024, the ECB had adopted a new policy regarding issuing NOCs to their cricketers. As per the policy, the ECB were not supposed to issue NOCs for leagues – barring the IPL – that clashed with the English summer.

The cricketers with white-ball contracts with their counties would not get NOCs for leagues that clashed with the T20 Blast or The Hundred, while those with red-ball contracts would face the same for leagues that coincided with the County Championship.

This posed a problem for Vince, who leads Hampshire in all three formats and had led them to top-three finishes for three consecutive seasons now. He has also been their leading run-scorer for four consecutive seasons. His deal with PSL franchise Karachi Kings is reportedly worth £100,000. The PSL will have an overlap with the County Championship.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Vince has opted to quit first-class cricket to play for the Kings, though he will continue to lead them at the T20 blast. It is not clear whether he has opted out of the 2025 season or has retired from the format for good.

“I love Hampshire,” he 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].

However, he added that “I also need to understand what is best for my family, and combine that with the stage of my career I am at.”

“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.”

Hampshire's director of cricket Giles White asked the club's supporters to be understanding of Vince’s decision: “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.

“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 [Hampshire] Hawks in the 2025 Vitality Blast.”

It is worth a mention that in July 2024, Vince had revealed that his house had been attacked twice in quick succession. He has since relocated to Dubai.

From 216 first-class games, Vince has scored 13,340 runs at 40.18 with 30 hundreds. Of these, 548 came in 13 Test matches between 2016 and 2017-18. He is the first major cricketer to quit first-class cricket since the ECB’s new policy.

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