<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-92123" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya-of-India1.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya of India" width="600" height="414" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92123" class="wp-caption-text">Hardik Pandya of India. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Champions Trophy is set to commence from the first day of June and looks promising to be a cracker of a tournament. The way warm-up games have panned out is the only indication that the actual extravaganza would be more entertaining for the fans. All the teams look to have covered all the bases perfectly and the stage is set for them to shine.

There are some players who are expected to perform from every country. Kohli, Smith, Warner, Williamson, Stokes, Shakib are some of those. Though there are few players who can set the stage ablaze on their day and if they perform to their potential, they can win the game for their team single handedly.

Here at CricTracker, we pick 5 players who could emerge as surprise packages:

Hardik Pandya is one of the fast emerging players into the international arena. The thing which went in his favour during his selection is that he is a seam bowling all-rounder. Even he has performed whenever an opportunity presented itself and has proved that his performances in IPL were not fluke.

Hardik is likely to play the pivotal role in India’s quest to defend the title. His seam bowling abilities along with his batting went his favour and selectors could not overlook his performances. He has already shown his skills with the bat in hand and even he smashed a 54 ball 80* against Bangladesh in the final warm-up game. Hardik looks set to play his first match in England and he would love to make a difference for his team.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Australian-cricketer-John-Hastings.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-83112" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Australian-cricketer-John-Hastings.jpg" alt="Australia vs Sri Lanka" width="600" height="427" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-83112" class="wp-caption-text">Australian cricketer John Hastings. (Photo credit: ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Pattinson, the pace quartet is finally together and such is the buzz surrounding them and their lethal combination, perhaps it is easy to overlook the strong claims of Hastings. The bowling all rounder has been out of the competitive for some time now due to injury. Hastings though would be itching to go out on the field against their Trans-Tasman rivals in their first match.

If he gets the opportunity remains to be seen but Hastings must surely be pushing for a place in the side. Last year, he was a regular in the Australia squad in ODIs and the burly all-rounder was the second highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets at a miserly average of 24.13. He is also no mug with the bat and can hang around if required and add some crucial runs to the total. His all-round abilities might tempt Smith to include him in the XI.

#3 Andile Phehlukwayo (South Africa)

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Andile-Phehlukwayo-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-87521" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andile-Phehlukwayo-1.jpg" alt width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87521" class="wp-caption-text">South African bowler Andile Phehlukwayo. (Photo credit: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Andile Phehlukwayo, the seam bowling all rounder who hails from the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal is another player who could burst his way into the limelight in this mega ICC event. Having debuted in September last year against Ireland, he has become one of the important players for Proteas side. Only at the age of 21, he already has enough amount of cricket at the highest level.

Phehlukwayo has picked 18 wickets in only 16 ODIs he has played. He has also played some climacteric knocks for his team&#8217;s already, one being the match-winning one against New Zealand in Hamilton when he scored quick runs coming lower down the order with his team needing 52 off 44 balls. He also partnered David Miller in an unbroken stand against Australia as Proteas hunted down a mammoth 372.

Phehlukwayo looks a certain starter for South Africa against Sri Lanka as the team management is certainly aware of his capabilities and other teams have to be aware of this young sensation.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Sabbir-Rahman.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102936" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sabbir-Rahman.jpg" alt="Sabbir Rahman, New Zeland v Bangladesh" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-102936" class="wp-caption-text">Sabbir Rahman of Bangladesh. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Sabbir Rahman is one player Bangladesh team management is banking on from last year. He has also been growing in stature as well and repaying the faith shown in him by the captain and coach. He made his Test debut late last year but has been the part of ODI set up from 2014.

Sabbir is an integral part of Bangladesh&#8217;s upward graph in the limited-overs format in the last couple of years.  He also bats at a crucial no.3 position in ODIs which is a huge responsibility given how ODI cricket has revolutionised in recent times.  The right-hander is also an exceptional fielder and his contribution might decide his team&#8217;s run in the tournament.

Sabbir is meant to be one of the senior players alongside the likes of Rahim, Shakib and Tamim. Bangladesh would look to him to take more responsibility at the top of the order as the stern test awaits them which starts from 1st of June against the hosts.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Lakshan-Sandakan.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81271" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lakshan-Sandakan.jpg" alt="Sri Lankan cricketer Lakshan Sandakan" width="600" height="403" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81271" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lankan cricketer Lakshan Sandakan. (Photo credit ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 25-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from the outskirts of Colombo is the player who might be a surprise package. Operating off a shuffling approach and a quick action, Sandakan has an amazing ability to turn the ball both ways which might make the batsmen’s life difficult. The left-arm chinaman should not be overlooked and might be the threat on the flat pitches in England.

Lakshan Sandakan brings that unique style of bowling which other teams don&#8217;t have in their line-up. Angelo Mathews rates him so high and there is every chance that he might play the first game against South Africa as they are not known to be the best players of spin. Though Sandakan has not performed that well in his short international career so far, he certainly has the potential to become the star player by the time tournament finishes.

<figure id="attachment_92123" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92123" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-92123" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya-of-India1.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya of India" width="600" height="414" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92123" class="wp-caption-text">Hardik Pandya of India. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Champions Trophy is set to commence from the first day of June and looks promising to be a cracker of a tournament. The way warm-up games have panned out is the only indication that the actual extravaganza would be more entertaining for the fans. All the teams look to have covered all the bases perfectly and the stage is set for them to shine.
There are some players who are expected to perform from every country. Kohli, Smith, Warner, Williamson, Stokes, Shakib are some of those. Though there are few players who can set the stage ablaze on their day and if they perform to their potential, they can win the game for their team single handedly.
Here at CricTracker, we pick 5 players who could emerge as surprise packages:
<h3>#1 Hardik Pandya (India)</h3>
Hardik Pandya is one of the fast emerging players into the international arena. The thing which went in his favour during his selection is that he is a seam bowling all-rounder. Even he has performed whenever an opportunity presented itself and has proved that his performances in IPL were not fluke.
Hardik is likely to play the pivotal role in India’s quest to defend the title. His seam bowling abilities along with his batting went his favour and selectors could not overlook his performances. He has already shown his skills with the bat in hand and even he smashed a 54 ball 80* against Bangladesh in the final warm-up game. Hardik looks set to play his first match in England and he would love to make a difference for his team.

<h3>#2 John Hastings (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_83112" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-83112" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Australian-cricketer-John-Hastings.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-83112" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Australian-cricketer-John-Hastings.jpg" alt="Australia vs Sri Lanka" width="600" height="427" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-83112" class="wp-caption-text">Australian cricketer John Hastings. (Photo credit: ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Pattinson, the pace quartet is finally together and such is the buzz surrounding them and their lethal combination, perhaps it is easy to overlook the strong claims of Hastings. The bowling all rounder has been out of the competitive for some time now due to injury.&nbsp;Hastings though would be itching to go out on the field against their Trans-Tasman rivals in their first match.
If he gets the opportunity remains to be seen but Hastings must surely be pushing for a place in the side. Last year, he was a regular in the Australia squad in ODIs and the burly all-rounder was the second highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets at a miserly average of 24.13. He is also no mug with the bat and can hang around if required and add some crucial runs to the total. His all-round abilities might tempt Smith to include him in the XI.

<h3>#3 Andile Phehlukwayo (South Africa)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_87521" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87521" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Andile-Phehlukwayo-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-87521" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andile-Phehlukwayo-1.jpg" alt width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87521" class="wp-caption-text">South African bowler Andile Phehlukwayo. (Photo credit: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Andile Phehlukwayo, the seam bowling all rounder who hails from the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal is another player who could burst his way into the limelight in this mega ICC event. Having debuted in September last year against Ireland, he has become one of the important players for Proteas side. Only at the age of 21, he already has enough amount of cricket at the highest level.
Phehlukwayo has picked 18 wickets in only 16 ODIs he has played. He has also played some climacteric knocks for his team’s already, one being the match-winning one against New Zealand in Hamilton when he scored quick runs coming lower down the order with his team needing 52 off 44 balls. He also partnered David Miller in an unbroken stand against Australia as Proteas hunted down a mammoth 372.
Phehlukwayo looks a certain starter for South Africa against Sri Lanka as the team management is certainly aware of his capabilities and other teams have to be aware of this young sensation.

<h3>#4 Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_102936" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-102936" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Sabbir-Rahman.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-102936" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sabbir-Rahman.jpg" alt="Sabbir Rahman, New Zeland v Bangladesh" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-102936" class="wp-caption-text">Sabbir Rahman of Bangladesh. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Sabbir Rahman is one player Bangladesh team management is banking on from last year. He has also been growing in stature as well and repaying the faith shown in him by the captain and coach. He made his Test debut late last year but has been the part of ODI set up from 2014.
Sabbir is an integral part of Bangladesh’s upward graph in the limited-overs format in the last couple of years. &nbsp;He also bats at a crucial no.3 position in ODIs which is a huge responsibility given how ODI cricket has revolutionised in recent times. &nbsp;The right-hander is also an exceptional fielder and his contribution might decide his team’s run in the tournament.
Sabbir is meant to be one of the senior players alongside the likes of Rahim, Shakib and Tamim. Bangladesh would look to him to take more responsibility at the top of the order as the stern test awaits them which starts from 1st of June against the hosts.

<h3>#5 Lakshan Sandakan (Sri Lanka)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_81271" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81271" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Lakshan-Sandakan.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-81271" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lakshan-Sandakan.jpg" alt="Sri Lankan cricketer Lakshan Sandakan" width="600" height="403" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81271" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lankan cricketer Lakshan Sandakan. (Photo credit ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 25-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from the outskirts of Colombo is the player who might be a surprise package. Operating off a shuffling approach and a quick action, Sandakan has an amazing ability to turn the ball both ways which might make the batsmen’s life difficult. The left-arm chinaman should not be overlooked and might be the threat on the flat pitches in England.
Lakshan Sandakan brings that unique style of bowling which other teams don’t have in their line-up. Angelo Mathews rates him so high and there is every chance that he might play the first game against South Africa as they are not known to be the best players of spin. Though Sandakan has not performed that well in his short international career so far, he certainly has the potential to become the star player by the time tournament finishes.

<figure id="attachment_92123" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92123" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-92123" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya-of-India1.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya of India" width="600" height="414" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92123" class="wp-caption-text">Hardik Pandya of India. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Champions Trophy is set to commence from the first day of June and looks promising to be a cracker of a tournament. The way warm-up games have panned out is the only indication that the actual extravaganza would be more entertaining for the fans. All the teams look to have covered all the bases perfectly and the stage is set for them to shine.
There are some players who are expected to perform from every country. Kohli, Smith, Warner, Williamson, Stokes, Shakib are some of those. Though there are few players who can set the stage ablaze on their day and if they perform to their potential, they can win the game for their team single handedly.
Here at CricTracker, we pick 5 players who could emerge as surprise packages:
<h3>#1 Hardik Pandya (India)</h3>
Hardik Pandya is one of the fast emerging players into the international arena. The thing which went in his favour during his selection is that he is a seam bowling all-rounder. Even he has performed whenever an opportunity presented itself and has proved that his performances in IPL were not fluke.
Hardik is likely to play the pivotal role in India’s quest to defend the title. His seam bowling abilities along with his batting went his favour and selectors could not overlook his performances. He has already shown his skills with the bat in hand and even he smashed a 54 ball 80* against Bangladesh in the final warm-up game. Hardik looks set to play his first match in England and he would love to make a difference for his team.

<h3>#2 John Hastings (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_83112" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-83112" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Australian-cricketer-John-Hastings.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-83112" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Australian-cricketer-John-Hastings.jpg" alt="Australia vs Sri Lanka" width="600" height="427" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-83112" class="wp-caption-text">Australian cricketer John Hastings. (Photo credit: ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Pattinson, the pace quartet is finally together and such is the buzz surrounding them and their lethal combination, perhaps it is easy to overlook the strong claims of Hastings. The bowling all rounder has been out of the competitive for some time now due to injury. Hastings though would be itching to go out on the field against their Trans-Tasman rivals in their first match.
If he gets the opportunity remains to be seen but Hastings must surely be pushing for a place in the side. Last year, he was a regular in the Australia squad in ODIs and the burly all-rounder was the second highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets at a miserly average of 24.13. He is also no mug with the bat and can hang around if required and add some crucial runs to the total. His all-round abilities might tempt Smith to include him in the XI.

<h3>#3 Andile Phehlukwayo (South Africa)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_87521" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87521" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Andile-Phehlukwayo-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-87521" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andile-Phehlukwayo-1.jpg" alt width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87521" class="wp-caption-text">South African bowler Andile Phehlukwayo. (Photo credit: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Andile Phehlukwayo, the seam bowling all rounder who hails from the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal is another player who could burst his way into the limelight in this mega ICC event. Having debuted in September last year against Ireland, he has become one of the important players for Proteas side. Only at the age of 21, he already has enough amount of cricket at the highest level.
Phehlukwayo has picked 18 wickets in only 16 ODIs he has played. He has also played some climacteric knocks for his team&#8217;s already, one being the match-winning one against New Zealand in Hamilton when he scored quick runs coming lower down the order with his team needing 52 off 44 balls. He also partnered David Miller in an unbroken stand against Australia as Proteas hunted down a mammoth 372.
Phehlukwayo looks a certain starter for South Africa against Sri Lanka as the team management is certainly aware of his capabilities and other teams have to be aware of this young sensation.

<h3>#4 Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_102936" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-102936" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Sabbir-Rahman.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102936" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sabbir-Rahman.jpg" alt="Sabbir Rahman, New Zeland v Bangladesh" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-102936" class="wp-caption-text">Sabbir Rahman of Bangladesh. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Sabbir Rahman is one player Bangladesh team management is banking on from last year. He has also been growing in stature as well and repaying the faith shown in him by the captain and coach. He made his Test debut late last year but has been the part of ODI set up from 2014.
Sabbir is an integral part of Bangladesh&#8217;s upward graph in the limited-overs format in the last couple of years.  He also bats at a crucial no.3 position in ODIs which is a huge responsibility given how ODI cricket has revolutionised in recent times.  The right-hander is also an exceptional fielder and his contribution might decide his team&#8217;s run in the tournament.
Sabbir is meant to be one of the senior players alongside the likes of Rahim, Shakib and Tamim. Bangladesh would look to him to take more responsibility at the top of the order as the stern test awaits them which starts from 1st of June against the hosts.

<h3>#5 Lakshan Sandakan (Sri Lanka)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_81271" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81271" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Lakshan-Sandakan.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81271" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lakshan-Sandakan.jpg" alt="Sri Lankan cricketer Lakshan Sandakan" width="600" height="403" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81271" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lankan cricketer Lakshan Sandakan. (Photo credit ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 25-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from the outskirts of Colombo is the player who might be a surprise package. Operating off a shuffling approach and a quick action, Sandakan has an amazing ability to turn the ball both ways which might make the batsmen’s life difficult. The left-arm chinaman should not be overlooked and might be the threat on the flat pitches in England.
Lakshan Sandakan brings that unique style of bowling which other teams don&#8217;t have in their line-up. Angelo Mathews rates him so high and there is every chance that he might play the first game against South Africa as they are not known to be the best players of spin. Though Sandakan has not performed that well in his short international career so far, he certainly has the potential to become the star player by the time tournament finishes.

Where the focus remains on the big players, these 5 players could bring in the surprise element

5 players who could emerge as a surprise in Champions Trophy 2017

Champions Trophy is set to commence from the first day of June and looks promising to be a cracker of a tournament. The way warm-up games have panned out is