As the Champions Trophy edges towards its climax, with New Zealand and South Africa gearing up for a high-stakes semifinal today, Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed perhaps felt out of place as he attended yesterday's press conference at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

There, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced sweeping changes to their white-ball squads.

Pakistan's premature exit from the 50-over tournament -- their first ICC event on home soil in nearly three decades -- had sent shockwaves through the team's hierarchy. In response, PCB wielded the axe, stripping Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan of their places in the T20 squad and sidelining Shaheen Shah Afridi from the ODI setup.

More significantly, Salman Ali Agha was handed the reins of the T20 side, a clear signal that Pakistan were turning the page with next year's T20 World Cup in mind.

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But while Javed might have preferred to be in the shoes of New Zealand's Mitchell Santner -- who fielded pre-semifinal questions an hour earlier at the same venue -- Pakistan's fate had been sealed early. A bruising loss to New Zealand in the opener, followed by a hammer blow from India, left their final group match against Bangladesh nothing more than a dead rubber.

Pakistan were not the only ones left licking their wounds. Bangladesh, too, had flattered to deceive, failing to make a mark in the competition despite arriving as aspiring champions. Yet, while Pakistan took drastic steps to shake things up, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appeared in no hurry to follow suit.

Although a board meeting was held in Mirpur on Monday, no immediate decisions were made regarding their misfiring senior players, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim -- who, according to BCB's cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, must "prove themselves" for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Asked about Bangladesh's struggles, Javed replied to travelling Bangladeshi journalists, "I think they were the most experienced side after India. But they didn't perform the way they should have.

"Because this Champions Trophy is a very tough tournament. There is no second-tier team you can beat."

Salman, meanwhile, was also quizzed about Bangladesh's upcoming tour of Pakistan in May, where they will play three ODIs and as many T20Is.

"Here we are looking forward to them. They are a great side and will always challenge you," said the new Pakistan T20 captain.

With a fresh-look squad, Pakistan now turn their focus to a tour of New Zealand, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs from March 16 to April 5. Bangladesh, on the other hand, remain at a crossroads. The question is not just whether changes are coming, but whether BCB has the appetite to make them.