Title-holders and hosts Pakistan crashed out in the group phase of the Champions Trophy after losing to New Zealand and arch-rivals India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They still have a match to play, against Bangladesh on Thursday, but their tournament is over -- a disappointing end to their first hosting of a major international cricket event in three decades.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
AFP Sport looks at where it all went wrong for Mohammad Rizwan's men in the 50-over tournament:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Uncertain build-up -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Rizwan was appointed white-ball skipper in October last year and led Pakistan to an impressive 2-1 ODI win over world champions Australia -- their first series victory in 22 years in the country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n They also won in Zimbabwe and inflicted on South Africa their first home whitewash, with a 3-0 scoreline.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But fast-rising opener Saim Ayub injured his ankle during a subsequent Test in South Africa.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan delayed the announcement of their Champions Trophy squad until the deadline to wait on Ayub's fitness but the left-hander failed to recover.<\/p>\r\n\r\n To add to the home team's woes, fellow opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after the first match -- a 60-run defeat to New Zealand -- with a muscle injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan's much-vaunted pace attack of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf -- rested from the Test series to keep them fresh -- looked rusty and failed to control the death overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n - Poor squad selection -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan selectors resisted calls from former players and pundits to include a second spinner in the 15-man squad and instead chose only one in Abrar Ahmed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n They relied on part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who have managed just one wicket between them in two matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan also erred by not selecting a regular opener and took the risky step of promoting out-of-form Babar Azam to partner Zaman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n When Zaman was ruled out they brought in Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement. He made just 10 as Pakistan were crushed by title favourites India by six wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n In a surprise move they included in the squad all-rounders Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf on the basis of their performances in Bangladesh's Twenty20 league.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Ashraf had not played an ODI for two years and Khushdil for three.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Former Pakistan captain and television pundit Rashid Latif called it a "political selection", blaming outside influence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n - Old-style cricket -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Former Pakistan captain and popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan of playing outdated cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "In 2025 Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style," he told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "The ailment of playing too many dot balls also hurt our game."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan played 152 dot balls against India in scoring 241 in 49.4 overs, including a record 28 balls with no scores in the first six overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Their total of 260 in 47.2 overs in the defeat to New Zealand had 162 dot balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "The mindset of Pakistan players does not match with modern-day cricket," said Afridi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n