What Went Wrong For Pakistan? 3 Factors Behind Hosts' Embarrassing Champions Trophy Show

Title-holders and hosts Pakistan crashed out in the group phase of the Champions Trophy after losing to New Zealand and arch-rivals India. 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. Let's look at where it all went wrong for Mohammad Rizwan's men in the 50-over tournament: 

Uncertain build-up

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. 

They also won in Zimbabwe and inflicted on South Africa their first home whitewash, with a 3-0 scoreline. 

But fast-rising opener Saim Ayub injured his ankle during a subsequent Test in South Africa.

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. 

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. 

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.

Poor squad selection

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. 

They relied on part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who have managed just one wicket between them in two matches.   

Pakistan also erred by not selecting a regular opener and took the