For Bangladesh to stake a claim as a contender in the Champions Trophy, two of their most vital cogs in the machinery must play their roles to perfection.  

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad are the last remaining members of the 'Big Five' of Bangladesh cricket. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was the first to leave the scene before Tamim Iqbal called it quits, with a final decision on the matter coming only after much speculation right before the Champions Trophy squad announcements. Shakib Al Hasan's involvement in politics did not end well either.  

This leaves Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah as the sole survivors of a generation that made Bangladesh believe they could stand among the best.  

Mushfiqur, with 272 ODIs to his name, has played the most ODIs for the Tigers. His average of 36.75 and a strike rate just under 80 show why Bangladesh has always banked on him. Nine centuries and an astonishing 49 half-centuries earned him the tag of 'Mr. Dependable'.

Mahmudullah, too, has witnessed many matches and has kept Bangladesh's hopes alive on numerous occasions. Known as Bangladesh's 'finisher' and the 'silent killer,' Mahmudullah has set lofty standards in ICC tournaments, with all four of his ODI centuries coming in ICC events. One of those centuries helped Bangladesh achieve an improbable victory against New Zealand in Cardiff during the 2017 Champions Trophy.  

The Tigers went on to play the semifinals in that tournament, marking their best-ever outing in an ICC event to date. The contributions and stories these two players have delivered will not fade, while the ups and downs they have faced throughout their long careers have also defined Bangladesh in the international circuit.  

Just as Mushfiqur captured imaginations in a 2012 Asia Cup game against India -- delivering a win while batting alongside Shakib in a crucial match to eliminate the giants from the tournament -- or as Mahmudullah's ice-cool finish in the Nidahas Trophy against Sri Lanka remains a cherished memory, there have been many high points.  

But the defeats have also left their mark. The 2012 Asia Cup final saw Mushfiqur and Shakib in tears, while the 2016 World Cup match against India in Bangalore remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in Bangladesh's cricket history.  

As Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur prepare for what is likely their final appearance in the Champions Trophy, their roles will extend beyond on-field performances. It will take something extra from them for the Tigers to finally cross the threshold and win a major tournament -- something that has eluded the 'Big Five' throughout their careers.  

For the first time, the Tigers will enter a major event without Shakib, Tamim, or Mashrafe. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur's responsibilities will begin in the dressing room, but they will not end there.  

The duo will have to balance Bangladesh's need for aggression in what is expected to be a high-scoring tournament. In the 2023 World Cup, they struggled to provide momentum to an unstable and ever-changing batting lineup. This time, they will need to complement the top order's aggression with their own calculated approach -- rotating the strike, building crucial partnerships, and guiding the batting effort. Given their ability to finish strongly with shots all around the wicket, they will provide the stability Bangladesh needs to accelerate on flat tracks.  

Their vast experience has long aided the Tigers, but the duo will want to finish with a worthy hurrah. Without Shakib, the onus will now fall on them -- not only to inspire but to lead from the front.  

"Mahmudullah Riyad Bhai and Mushfiq Bhai's experience should be shared with everyone on the field. They have vast knowledge of the game and the tournament, and it will help us in many ways," skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said at the final press conference before departing for the tournament. Now, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur's final chance has arrived to step up and claim what has remained elusive.