England batter James Vince has expressed his concerns with the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) no-objection certificate (NOC) policy, which allows players to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but restricts involvement in other global franchise leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Vince, who recently quit England’s first-class cricket to prioritize franchise commitments, shared insights into how the policy has created frustration among players.
The 33-year-old was retained by Karachi Kings for PSL 10 and decided to step down as Hampshire’s captain, opting out of the County Championship to participate in the league.
“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. 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 understand,” James Vince said in a recent interview.
According to the England batter, the ECB’s decision to let players participate in the IPL and no other league including the PSL 10 was due to the relationship between the cricketing boards.
“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.
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,” James Vince said.