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Bangladesh’s Shakib in doubt for New Zealand tour Bogatov warns future BRAVE CF opponents Roman Bogatov says first-round finish would be a less painful option for opponents

Roman Bogatov: Get• finished in Round 1 or suffer

TDT | Manama Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan reacts after being injured AFP | Dhaka fter his BRAVE CF debut win, Roman Bogatov tar all-rounder Shakib Al is riding high in confi- SHasan is a major doubt dence.A He certainly proved his for Bangladesh’s tour of New caliber with his win at BRAVE Zealand next month be- KNOW WHAT CF 46, surviving some tough cause of injury and personal spots against Nurzhan Akishev reasons. to eventually take over and get Shakib returned to inter- a unanimous decision nod in his national cricket, after a one- Bangladesh had been favor. Following the victory, he year ban for failing to report counting on Shakib for dished out a scathing warning corruption approaches, with the tour in February to his future opponents, telling the one-day series against and March as they them that a first-round finish West Indies that ended have never beaten the would be a less painful option Monday. Kiwis in New Zealand for them compared to going He scored 113 runs and the full course of a fight with claimed six wickets to win the him. Roman Bogatov reacts before a bout (file photo) player of the series award. United States. Roman Bogatov has molded But Shakib limped off the Bangladesh had been count- himself into a complete MMA the longer the fight goes the the title. I came to BRAVE CF for field during Monday’s 120-run ing on Shakib for the tour in fighter, evolving from the pure uglier it will get for them. the title.” he said. win with a groin problem. He February and March as they wrestler he once was. With sub- “For my future opponents, Bogatov will face fierce com- was unable to complete his have never beaten the Kiwis mission threats and knockout I want to say that it is better For my future petition in the featherweight bowling spell. in New Zealand. power added to his arsenal, he that they get finished in the first opponents, I want to division, as he joins the likes of Shakib said he would wait They will play three one- is more than capable of ending round or I will beat them for the Dumar Roa, Gabriel Fly, Anzor at least a day before making day internationals and three a bout at any moment. remainder of the fight” he said. say that it is better Abdulkhozhaev, and Mochamed an assessment but admitted Twenty20 internationals dur- The Russian phenom has sev- Ultimately it is the vacant Feath- that they get finished Machaev, who are also in the “it doesn’t look very good at ing the series. en out of 11 professional wins erweight world title that he is in the first round or hunt for the vacant Feather- the moment”. Shakib said he would make coming by way of stoppage. after, “I want to thank BRAVE CF. I will beat them for weight World Title. He has also Media reported that he an announcement after Bang- According to the 30-year-old I like this organization, it is one the remainder of the announced himself as a future might also skip the New Zea- ladesh’s two Tests against the Featherweight, his future op- of the best promotions. I want to fight title contender, making sure to land series to be with his wife, West Indies. The first starts in ponents should hope to get fin- tell Mohammed Shahid (BRAVE call out his entire division for a ROMAN BOGATOV who is expecting a child, in the Chittagong on February 3. ished in the first round because CF president) that I am going for title shot. ‘Dy Incredible’ stays with Brave CF Pakistan in trouble as Rabada TDT | Manila

ixed martial arts warrior leads South Africa fightback MRolando Dy, son of Fil- AFP | Karachi ipino boxing legend Rolando Navarette, is staying with Brave Combat Federation (CF) and is ast bowler Kagiso Rabada eager to achieve more this year. Ftook two wickets for just The reigning Brave Fighter eight runs as he led a South Af- of the Year, known as “Dy In- rican fightback against Pakistan credible”, sealed a fresh and in their first Test in Karachi exclusive three-year contract yesterday. that also guarantees him five Pakistan were in trouble at bouts under the Bahrain-based 33 for four at the close of play, promotion. having bowled out the visitors Fresh from a strong showing for 220 -- their second-lowest in 2020, despite the challenges total in the country. presented by the coronavirus Dy is looking for a title shot this year Fourteen wickets fell on the pandemic, the 29-year-old Dy artist Maciej Gierszewski via a brownish National Stadium (14-9) said he appreciates the split decision then dominated pitch, which had been expected confidence that Brave has given John Brewin of New Zealand to take spin from day one. him and that he is looking for- It’s an honour to en route to a unanimous deci- South Africa were well placed ward to progressing this year represent this sion victory. His efforts did not at 108-2 soon after lunch, but The stump flies as Pakistan’s Abid Ali is bowled by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and beyond. organization on the go to waste as he was named lost their last eight wickets for “This organization took care global stage of this Brave Fighter of the Year. just 112 runs -- barely managing with 58, while George Linde of me when I was at the lowest sport. I will surely do Dy made his Brave debut in to overhaul their lowest total (35) and Rabada (21 not out) point of my career as a profes- 2017 and did the rounds of dif- in Pakistan, the 214 made at were other notable contribu- sional fighter,” said Dy in a re- my best to give the ferent promotions after. Faisalabad in 1997. tors. lease announcing his stay with fans and my supporters In 2020, he moved up to Spinners Yasir Shah (3-54), While lamenting his side’s Brave. a performance to the lightweight division, from debutant Nauman Ali (2-38) poor batting, Elgar said South “Without hesitations, they remember every time I featherweight, and it is paying and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi 199 Africa now had the upper hand. gave me the opportunity to step inside the cage dividends for him so far. (2-49) did the damage. wickets have been taken “I would not have said that by South Africa’s Kagiso write a new chapter in my story ROLANDO DY This year, Dy said one of the But then Rabada paid back after our batting, but then we as a combat sports competitor. goals for him is to get a shot at the hosts with interest, bowl- Rabada from 44 Tests fought back by taking wickets,” Here I am today, one of the best contenders in the lightweight the lightweight title currently ing Abid Ali (four) in his third he said. fighters on their roster and in division, Dy finished 2020 held by Amin Ayoub of France over and then getting debutant “Knowing that this pitch will the world. strong after months of limited just as he expressed readiness Imran Butt (nine) caught at leg- get tougher, and knowing that “It’s an honour to represent activity because of the restric- to whomever the promotion slip off a rising delivery. Anrich Nortje without scoring. we have good spinners, I am this organization on the global tions forced by the pandemic. lines him up with. He now has 199 wickets from At the close, Azhar Ali and confident that we can get fur- stage of this sport. I will surely He had two straight victories “I want that title shot in 2021. 44 Tests. Fawad Alam were unbeaten on ther ahead.” do my best to give the fans and in September and November But if Brave CF thinks I have to Babar Azam, leading Pakistan five each - with Pakistan trail- Elgar struck his 16th Test my supporters a performance en route to willing himself as prove it again, then so be it. I for the first time in a Test, fell ing by 187 runs with six wickets half-century -- laced with nine to remember every time I step one of the noteworthy fighters really don’t mind. Line them up lbw to spinner Keshav Maharaj intact. boundaries -- before he edged inside the cage.” in Brave. and I will keep knocking them for seven before night watch- Earlier, opener Dean Elgar Nauman into the hands of Azam Considered one of the title Dy first beat Polish knockout down.” man Shaheen was bowled by top-scored for South Africa at slip.