England batsman James Vince has decided to retire from first-class cricket in 2025 in order to participate in the 2025 Pakistan Super League. The decision came as a shock to Hampshire Cricket and its supporters as Vince was one of their more experienced players.

Vince has been an integral part of Hampshire’s cross-format team for many years. He is also the captain of the team but has now decided to abandon the red ball format. However, he will continue to play white-ball cricket for Hampshire.

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James Vince quits first-class cricket to play in PSL

As per the ECB’s new policy, the board will only grant NOCs to white-ball specialists to participate in overseas leagues for matches held during the English summer county tournament, with the exception of the IPL, which is an exception.

This policy resulted in Vince retiring from first-class cricket or giving up his PSL contract. The 33-year-old England batsman chose the former after considering his future and family.

James Vince has thanked Hampshire County Cricket Board in a statement but insisted he is still keen to play for them in T20 cricket. He claimed his family and future were the biggest reasons for giving up the county title.

It’s worth noting that Vince moved his family to Dubai last year after their home was attacked, with Hampshire citing this as one of the main reasons he was offered a new white-ball contract in 2025.

“I love Hampshire. It’s been my club and home town for 16 years so I’m hoping to be at my best and continue to contribute to Hampshire T20 cricket and hopefully go further in the competition (Blast) Be successful,” Vince noted.

“I also need to understand what’s best for my family and combine that with the stage of my career I’m at. I’m so grateful to everyone at Utilita Bowl for supporting me through a very difficult time last year , and allowed me to take the next step,” he added.

James Vince’s exit does not mean that he has completely quit first-class cricket. He could return to England’s domestic red-ball tour at a later date. However, his chances of making it into the England Test squad are quite low.

Giles White responds to James Vince’s decision

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White issued a statement in support of James Vince and asked supporters to understand his situation. He’s looking forward to Vince’s performance in an explosion of energy.

“James (Vince) has been at the heart of the club for 20 years and has shown absolute dedication on and off the pitch as the team’s leading batsman and captain,” White said.

“We recognize this news will be disappointing to many fans but hope everyone can join us in celebrating his contribution to our club over the years and as he fulfills his commitment to continue leading the Eagles into a vibrant 2025 campaign. support him,” he added.

James Vince’s PSL stats

James Vince was retained by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL 2025 draft on January 13. He is likely to be ranked number one for Karachi Kings. Vince has played 45 games in the PSL so far, scoring 1166 runs at an average of 27.76, a strike rate of 136.69 and 4 50-run games.

Currently, he represents the Sydney 76ers in the 2024-25 Big Bash League, scoring 228 points in six games with an average of 45.60 and a shooting percentage of 139.02. He has hit one hundred and fifty runs so far this season.