Defending champions and hosts Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage of the Champions Trophy, losing to both New Zealand and their arch-rivals India. Despite having a match left against Bangladesh, their tournament ended prematurely, marking a disappointing outcome in their first time hosting a major international cricket event in 30 years. Several factors contributed to this early exit, starting with an uncertain build-up to the tournament, including key injuries to opener Fakhar Zaman and rising star Saim Ayub. The team's pace attack, which was expected to be their strength, looked off-form, particularly in the crucial death overs. Pakistan's squad selection also drew criticism. The team opted not to include a second specialist spinner, relying on part-timers Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who failed to make an impact. The decision to promote the out-of-form Babar Azam as an opener backfired when he was unable to deliver, and Imam-ul-Haq's replacement role was similarly ineffective. Additionally, including all-rounders Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf based on their performances in Bangladesh's T20 league seemed like a political move, with Ashraf not having played an ODI for two years. Another major issue was Pakistan's outdated approach to cricket, according to former captain Shahid Afridi. He criticized the team for playing a style of cricket reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s, while other teams had progressed to adopt a more aggressive and modern style. The team struggled with an excessive number of dot balls, further limiting their scoring opportunities. Afridi emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of Pakistan's cricketing mindset to match the demands of modern-day cricket.