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'Double Standards': James Vince Calls Out ECB’s NOC Policy For Favouring IPL Over PSL

Soumyajit Dutta

James Vince calls out ECB for prioritizing IPL over PSL [Source: @VMT_Official/X.com]James Vince calls out ECB for prioritizing IPL over PSL [Source: @VMT_Official/X.com]

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England batter James Vince has called out the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its controversial No-Objection Certificate (NOC) policy, which he claims is riddled with double standards. The policy, introduced in November, reflects partiality for certain leagues as pointed out by Vince.

The policy effectively restricts players from taking part in overseas leagues that overlap with the English domestic season, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), but grants an exemption for the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

James Vince Criticizes ECB's NOC Policy

Vince, who was recently retained by Karachi Kings for the 2025 PSL, questioned why the ECB allows players to participate in the IPL, despite it clashing with the County Championship, while players are denied the chance to play in the PSL during the same period.

Vince, who has resigned from his role as Hampshire’s captain and decided to quit red-ball cricket to focus solely on white-ball cricket, remarked on the 'double standards' of ECB.  He said:

“PSL is 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. So, that was a big one where it just didn’t seem right." 

The NOC system, which permits participation in the IPL but bans involvement in the PSL, has raised questions about favouritism towards the IPL. 

Vince went on to speculate that the disparity in treatment between the IPL and PSL might be due to the ECB’s relationship with the BCCI and PCB, suggesting politics might play a role in the decision-making process. He added:

“I guess it’s got to be something to do with relationships between the ECB, PCB, and BCCI.” 

Vince's Take On Prioritizing Franchise Cricket Over Red-Ball Cricket

James Vince's decision to prioritize the PSL, despite the ECB’s policy, underscores the increasing allure of franchise cricket, with its lucrative contracts often outweighing the financial benefits of playing in domestic formats.

"You're talking quite large sums of money in terms of what players forego by playing red-ball cricket. Particularly further down their careers, when there's a big difference in those numbers, I'm sure more and more people will go down that route."

Meanwhile, Vince has been a part of PSL since 2015. Starting his journey with Karachi Kings, James Vince was also acquired by Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators. However, he will be representing the PSL's 2025 edition in Karachi Kings' jersey. In his PSL career, Vince staggered 1166 runs in 45 matches at a strike rate of 136.69 boasting 4 half-centuries and a highest score of 84.