Some blamed it on over-dependence on Sohail Abbas, others felt they didn't look spirited enough as former players castigated Pakistan's hockey team for the crushing defeats to India and England in the World Cup.
Hosts India also suffered their second successive defeat to Spain last night raising the prospect of semifinals being played without the two countries which were once the powerhouses of world hockey.
"It is a sad reflection on the state of affairs prevailing in hockey in the sub-continent," former Pakistan captain and Olympian Hanif Khan said.
"The fact that both Pakistan and India might not be in the semi-finals shows how low our standards have sunk and not just because other teams have improved but because our administrators have taken no proper and far sighted decisions to keep the sport alive in these countries," he added.
Former Olympian Samiullah said the way Pakistan lost to India and England showed the players lacked the spirit and stamina for such a big event.
He was also critical of the presence of Asif Bajwa in the team as manager while serving as secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
{{/usCountry}}He was also critical of the presence of Asif Bajwa in the team as manager while serving as secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
{{/usCountry}}"What was the need for Bajwa to go as manager on every foreign tour anyone else could do this job? It is obvious that the players were confused because of the manager also giving them coaching instructions besides the chief coach of the team Shahid Ali Khan," Samiullah said.