Pakistan's Champions Trophy campaign came to a bitter end as New Zealand's five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday confirmed their elimination before the group stage fixtures had ended.

The result also secured India's place in the final four, leaving the defending champions to reflect on their disappointing performances in the first ICC event they have hosted since the 1996 ODI World Cup.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has raised concerns over the team's scheduling in the tournament, questioning why Pakistan Cricket Board chose to play New Zealand first instead of Bangladesh, who were also eliminated from the competition alongside Pakistan.

Ramiz suggested that Pakistan's campaign was set up for failure due to the sequence of fixtures.

"I wonder why Pakistan played their first match against New Zealand. They should have played their first match against Bangladesh. Even though Bangladesh is a strong side, it was still comparatively an easy match for them," Ramiz said on his YouTube channel following Pakistan's six-wicket defeat to archrivals India in Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan's campaign began with a 60-run loss to the Black Caps, immediately putting them under pressure. Ramiz argued that a different scheduling approach could have levelled the playing field in Group A.

"If Pakistan had faced Bangladesh first, the pressure would have been shared equally among the teams. Instead, the opening loss to New Zealand meant that the India match became a do-or-die contest," he added.

Pakistan's struggles in the tournament have once again brought their team management and planning under scrutiny. While New Zealand and India have dominated Group A with two wins each, Pakistan and Bangladesh have struggled to assert themselves, misfiring on all cylinders.

Ramiz's remarks may spark debate over whether fixture sequencing had a genuine impact on their campaign, or if their performances were simply not up to the mark. Regardless, their premature exit from the Champions Trophy will be a tough pill to swallow for the hosts and their fans.

Pakistan play against Bangladesh on Thursday in both teams' third and final match of the tournament.