If Pakistan were under any doubt as to the level of anger their poor performance in the Champions Trophy had engendered among their supporters, it would have been banished as the team bus was pelted with bottles and stones as it left Edgbaston.

Having succumbed to their third successive defeat in the tournament, Pakistan were forced to admit that they had been comprehensively out-played by their arch-rivals India. Yet their coach, Dav Whatmore, responded to his side's elimination by chiding journalists for getting "carried away" with their criticisms and then claimed that his side were "one ODI victory from a good series".

It is simply not true. Had Pakistan prevailed in one of their three games in this event, they would still have been eliminated at the first hurdle, they would still have an inadequate batting line-up and they would still be deluding themselves into thinking there is not a gap emerging between the top nations and themselves. There is no excusing the bottles that were hurled at the Pakistan bus - such behaviour shames the vast majority of passionate but sensible supporters - but their performance in this competition has failed to justify the proud traditions of Pakistan cricket.

There is much to celebrate and nurture in Pakistan cricket. The fielding is improving and the bowling is genuinely exciting. But it would be foolish to deny there are also real causes for concern. If Whatmore cannot admit there is a problem, he may find it hard to find the solution.

To rub salt in the wound, this game confirmed a fear that many Pakistan supporters would have had for a while: that a chasm is growing between these two arch-enemies. While Pakistan have batted like blind men lost in fog, India have developed a couple of top-order players of real class. The manner with which Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan dealt with the short ball, in particular, suggested there is no reason they cannot both excel in all formats, all around the world. Even the Indian fielding, for so long a weakness, has become a strength. It was not a completely dead game, either. It remains possible that, if the semi-final is rained off, then points scored in the group stages could yet be relevant. It may be some consolation to Pakistan that India have shown how quickly change can come.