KARACHI: England all-rounder James Vince has expressed concern over the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) No Objection Certificate (NOC) policy and criticized its restrictions on participation in overseas leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), under the English domestic league . season while exemptions are given to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After being retained by the Karachi Kings in the PSL, Vince pointed out the “double standards” in the ECB’s approach.

“The PSL is a shorter competition, so if you’re going to play in it, you’re probably missing less domestic cricket than if you’re going to the IPL,” Vince said. “So, it was a big one where it just didn’t seem right,” he added.

The ECB’s policy, introduced last November, restricts players from participating in overseas leagues that clash with the English summer, including the PSL, Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Major League Cricket (MLC).

However, players can secure NOCs for the IPL even though it overlaps with the County Championship season.

“I think it must be something to do with the relationship between the ECB, the PCB and the BCCI,” Vince speculated.

Vince announced last year that he would retire from red-ball cricket and step down as Hampshire’s club captain to focus solely on white-ball cricket for the 2025 season, allowing him to join the PSL.

He indicated that the financial difference between domestic contracts and franchise leagues influenced his decision.

“You’re talking about quite large sums compared to what players give up playing red-ball cricket. Especially later in their careers when there’s a big difference in those numbers, I’m sure more and more people will go that way,” he said.

The PSL’s new April-May window clashed with the County Championship, forcing Vince to renegotiate the final year of his Hampshire contract. “I know we have had a bit of dialogue with our owners and the team management in Karachi. They were worried about picking someone up in the draft and saw the NOC being denied,” he said.

Initially, the ECB planned to block players from any overseas league that clashed with County Championship matches. However, following pressure from players, agents and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), the stance was softened, allowing some exceptions. Despite this, the IPL’s unique exemption has continued to raise questions.

“Had another 25, 30 English players been brought in on decent contracts [in the PSL]whether there would have been more people giving up their red ball contracts to take that offer,” Vince mused. “It didn’t help English domestic players in the draft either.”

Vince’s decision to focus on white-ball cricket and join the PSL highlights a growing trend among players who prioritize lucrative franchise leagues over traditional formats. With franchise opportunities expanding globally, the financial incentives often outweigh the benefits of domestic contracts.

As more players question the ECB’s NOC policy and its implications for their careers, the board is facing increasing pressure to resolve the perceived inconsistencies and ensure fair opportunities for all formats and leagues.

According to a report, England players had sought clarity from the ECB on their NOCs after they were signed to play in the January 13 PSL draft.

While James Vince is part of Karachi Kings, Cris Jordan and David Willey have been drafted to play for Multan Sultans. Tom Kohler Cadmore will don the shirt of Peshawar Zalmis, while Sam Billings and Tom Curran will go to Lahore Qalandars.