On Wednesday, England and Hampshire cricketer James Vince announced that he is moving to Dubai permanently after his house and car were attacked multiple times last year, causing his young family to fear for their safety.
He has also decided to leave First-Class cricket to play for Karachi Kings in the upcoming Pakistan Super League 2025, going against the ECB’s rule of not giving NOCs to players for playing in the T20 tournament.
In November 2024, the England board decided not to give NOCs to players who play all formats to compete in the PSL, which will take place in April-May this season. This is because the league clashes with the early rounds of the County Championship.
Vince, who has played 13 Tests, was supposed to lead Hampshire again this season, but the Kings kept him before the PSL draft. He explained that the reason for moving his family to Dubai was because of the attacks on their home, which were later found to be a case of mistaken identity.
“I love Hampshire, it’s been my club and home for 16 years, 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. 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.” Vince said.
Vince has played for Hampshire regularly since 2009. He made his England debut in 2015 and went on to play 13 Tests and 25 One Day matches for the national team. He was also part of the England team that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Giles White, Hampshire’s cricket director, stated that they understood and respected Vince’s choice.
“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 recognize 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,” White said.
In 216 First-Class matches, Vince has scored 13,340 runs at an average of 40, including 30 centuries.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
