Chris Gayle and Andre Russell headline a list of 5 West Indians listed as marquee players for the inaugural edition of the Canadian T20 tournament that bowls off in June.

The new competition, dubbed the Global T20 Canada, is being contested by six teams – Caribbean All-Stars, Toronto Nationals, Montreal Tigers, Ottawa Royals, Vancouver Knights and Winnipeg Hawks.

It’s scheduled to run from June 28 to July 16 at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in Toronto.

“On behalf of CWI, I would like to wish Global T20 Canada much success,” said CWI president, Dave Cameron.

“The growth of our region will largely depend on the success of leagues and tournaments like this.

“We support Cricket Canada and look forward to working even closer going forward.”

The list of marquee players is completed by Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy as well as international stars Lasith Malinga, Chris Lynn, Shahid Afridi, David Miller and the embattled Steve Smith who was banned by Cricket Australia for 12 months for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March.

The ban prohibits Smith, who was also stripped of the Australian captaincy for two years, from playing at state or national levels and in Big Bash Cricket – meaning his eligible to play outside Australia.

The league in the meantime comprises 22 matches culminating in the playoffs and the championship decider on July 16.

Teams will be stocked with players through a draft that will take place on May 31.

Four roster spots will be set aside for Canadians, including one for a Canadian U-23 player.