Yuvraj Singh, KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Jonny Bairstow and the world's T20 league top earners

The International League T20 is set to become the second most lucrative competition for cricketers when it launches at the start of 2023.

The new event has been a long time coming. There have been a number of attempts for the UAE to launch a 20-over event all of its own in recent years.

Now it is finally set to start, with franchises that are sister teams to those in the Indian Premier League – as well as one run by the owners of Manchester United.

Players will have enviable earning potential, with salaries of nearly half a million dollars available to top-bracket players.

That is still a way short of the behemoth that is the IPL, but is very competitive when set against the other leagues around the world.

KL Rahul became the highest-paid player in the history of cricket’s most cash-rich league when he was paid $2.3 million to lead Lucknow Super Giants in this year’s IPL.

Pat Cummins, the Australia captain, became the highest paid overseas player in the IPL when Kolkata Knight Riders bid $2.2m for his services at auction ahead of the 2021 season.

ILT20 franchises are free to negotiate directly with players, rather than bid via auction or draft. Top players will be offered $450,000 to play, with Jonny Bairstow leading the way for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

The wage bill for each of the six franchises in the ILT20 could be around $2.5m. Places will be set aside for UAE players, such as Rohan Mustafa, with salaries of $10,000 for them in the competition.

Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya lifts the IPL trophy after the win over Rajasthan Royals in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 29, 2022. Sportzpics / IPL

The new South African competition will also launch in January. All six teams are