Chris Gayle will be one of the Jamaican team's franchise players. - File

Caribbean Premier League managing director, Dirk Hall, says given the need to maximise development opportunities for West Indies players, only four overseas players will be allowed per franchise during the upcoming event.

Hall made the announcement during the launch of the league on Tuesday, in Barbados, where details as it relates to contracted players were revealed.

"We will definitely have non-West Indian players playing in the league, but there will be restrictions," he said.

"But only four non-West Indian players can be contracted for each team, and the reason for this is our desire to maximise the development opportunities for as many West Indian players as possible."

The league, which will bowl off on July 29 and climax on August 29, will have Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine as its regional 'franchise' players.

These players will then be joined by six international franchise players and together will form the backbone of each team.

A total of 15 players will be contracted to each of the league's six Caribbean city-based franchise teams.

draft system

Of this amount, six players must be from the host country of each franchise, while four must be under the age of 23. A draft system will be used to select non-franchise players.

The countries that are down to play host to a franchise are Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Lucia.

The league will be played on a home-and-away basis for a total of 30 group matches.

This will be followed by an eliminator and grand final, and according to league founder and chairman, Ajmal Khan, the event will showcase the beauty and talent of the Caribbean to the world.

"The best cricketers that the West Indies has to offer playing alongside their international counterparts, coupled with celebrity appeal from Hollywood, Bollywood and local and international music talent, with the carnival atmosphere for which the Caribbean is world-renowned and indeed envied, is sure to draw the attention of current and new cricket fans across the globe," said Khan.