NNERSThe running back situation in Philadelphia appears to be unclea

If you were to ask someone even remotely connected to one of several cricket academies that have sprung up across Raipur about Vishal Kushwaha, its unlikely you will come back without hearing stories of how he has destroyed several bowling attacks during inter-district matches in Chhattisgarh over the last five years.Local journalists, who have covered Kushwaha during his Under-25 days, remember him nonchalantly flicking Umesh Yadav for sixes at the old VCA ground in Nagpur on several occasions. During one such knock, against Vidarbha XI in 2012, he was identified by talent scouts from Kings XI Punjab. I thought there was some hope, Kushwaha recollects. But I was shocked by what I saw at the trials.Kings Cup, a tournament organised by the franchise, consisted of four teams made up of shortlisted players. Kushwaha batted a handful of deliveries in a rain-affected game. He didnt bowl or field. Three days later, he was asked to head home. The reason: he didnt come from a state that played cricket.They asked me how many first-class and List A matches Ive played. I told them Chhattisgarh still doesnt have affiliation, so I havent played any. I was immediately asked to leave and come back when I had played recognised cricket. Was it my fault? No. They picked me for the trials, they called me, and they sent me back.That wasnt it. Kushwaha was in for similar treatment from Delhi Daredevils. Shortlisted, but again they asked me the same questions, he says. It made me wonder if talent scouting is about ability or which association you play for. That is when the gravity of the situation hit me. I contemplated giving up the game at 25.It was only after employment with the Account Generals office as an accountant in Raipur - he completed his commerce degree in a bid to forge a parallel path - did he rethink his decision to quit cricket. For now, its a decision hes happy with and hopes to play for seven or eight seasons.In many ways, Kushwahas frustration at being overlooked because of the system reflected the mood around the game in Chhattisgarh.****Between 2000 and 2008, upcoming cricketers would hit a dead end by the time they were 15 or 16. With little help from the association, which was grappling with several issues - lack of funding, affiliation woes - players were left to fend for themselves.Jalaj Saxena, who learnt his early cricket in Bhilai where his father was employed, moved to Indore along with his brother Jatin for better prospects. He has since established himself as a reliable allrounder in domestic cricket. Harpreet Singh, member of Indias Under-19 team at the 2010 World Cup now plays for Madhya Pradesh, having moved from Durg.Sahil Gupta shifted to Baroda to pursue the game. It was only after the confirmation of Chhattisgarhs status as full member that he returned. Sumit Ruikar, employed by the Accountant Generals office in Chhattisgarh during the off-season, played his cricket in Nagpur. They were part of a fortunate group who were able to play elsewhere.Now with the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) receiving full membership from the BCCI, three years after their five-year qualification period ended, cricketers looking to take up the game perhaps may not suffer the frustration that threatened to derail careers of those who couldnt afford to shift outside the state.****A crisscross of Raipur talking cricket is met with philosophical undertones when asked about Chhattisgarhs Ranji Trophy debut this season.Mehnat ki kamai bolte hai na, yeh wohi hai, [This is the reward for hardwork] Rajesh Dave, secretary of the CSCS, says of their elevation, which has arrived after a battle that lasted 16 years.Its not like just those who travel with their kit bags in crowded trains from Kandivali and Thane to Churchgate to play cricket struggle. Ours has been a big struggle too, says a local cricketer, trying to fit in to the system despite being branded an outsider by the very state that once nurtured his talent.Cricket ne bahut rulaya hai. Ab aage, sirf ladne ki junoon hai sab mein, [Cricket has made us cry. Going forward, it will just be the passion that will drive us] Kushwaha says. He was regarded as the face of Chhattisgarh cricket, until Amandeep Khare rose through the age-group structure to become the first cricketer from the state to represent the country - at the Under-19 level.****The mehnat ki kamai (the fruit of labour) Dave, a former Madhya Pradesh player, refers to is the fight for affiliation from the BCCI since 2000, when Chhattisgarh was separated from MP. Two factions fighting for control led to Chhattisgarh cricket being in a state of flux.It was only in 2005, when Baldev Singh Bhatia, the current president, and Dave came together following reconciliation, that the seeds of recognition were sown. Sanjay Jagdale, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association secretary, was a key member in the negotiations, according to Dave. Three years later, Chhattisgarh were granted associate status on account of stability. It meant they could participate in the age-group tournaments conducted for affiliates and associates.The first signs of promise came in 2009-10, when Chhattisgarhs Under-19 side emerged champions of the Associates and Affiliate tournament. Then they repeated that feat in 2011-12 to earn a promotion to the plate league of the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy. In 2013-14, the Under-19 side finished third in their group. They narrowly missed qualification for semi-finals, but voices from within the board hinted at full membership in the not-too-distant future.The actual churn started around then, Dave recalls. The associations subsidy was increased from Rs 50 lakh to 75 lakh. With the team having already spent close to four years as an associate, there was a buzz that they could possibly become a full member in 2013. Cricketers who were lost to the game started to return, while many other youngsters came forward, Dave says.As heartening as it was to see the pool of cricketers widen, the CSCS was now faced with the challenge of having to build turf wickets across the districts, outside of Bhilai, the most established center in the state. From having only three turf wickets outside the steel city, they built 20 surfaces. The biggest challenge, however, was the absence of qualified coaches and trainers.Realising the need to put together a system, the association managed to rope in support staff for their functional academies in Raipur, Bhilai and Bilaspur. The funding came via grants from the state government and local industries.But the challenges continued. Trials would often be disrupted by violence - Chhattisgarhs deep interior is still gripped with trouble from the Naxals - leading to the associations inability to streamline talent. Camps would come to an abrupt halt, leaving academies teeming with aspirants being denied opportunities.We had our own share of trouble, but it didnt stop us from conducting inter-district tournaments to bring the best players to Raipur and train them, Dave says. A lot of them left out too, but we werent in a position to do much. We also had a financial crunch, but were fortunate to have received the patronage of the state government and the industries in this region for having helped us at a difficult time. A key step towards Chhattisgarhs realisation of being a full member was taken when the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium was slotted to host IPL matches in 2013. Completely funded by the state government, the stadium, for which work started in 2001, was inaugurated with Delhi Daredevils hosting Pune Warriors. A capacity of 55,000, which made it the second-biggest in India in terms of seating, a large outfield with 10 turf wickets, and state-of-the-art facilities meant the association could finally call something their own. Hosting the IPL and the now defunct Champions League T20 also brought in funds.A final seal of approval awaited them, but it proved a false dawn. The implications of the IPL spot fixing scandal of 2013 - with N Srinivasan being asked to step down as BCCI president - led to the issue being put on the backburner. Jagmohan Dalmiyas death while in office in 2015 led to the issue being sidetracked again. In February 2016, CSCS finally received the good news.It brings a financial package that will be at par with all the other full members - Rs 20 crores annually - which the association wants to use to build residential academies in Raipur, Bhilai and Bilaspur, apart from developing a separate womens wing.****Till affiliation was received, players largely relied on government jobs through sports quota to continue playing the game in uncertain times. The less-fortunate cricketers were beneficiaries of industrial development in Chhattisgarh, known for its mineral wealth, steel plants and hydro-electric projects.One of them is Abhishek Darekar, a fast bowler, who impressed Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in 2011. After playing league cricket in Chennai for a few seasons, he faded away. The joke among local cricketing circles is, if you dont find cricketers on the field, chances are that they would be in the industries and factories near Raipur.For todays generation, however, things are looking up, as epitomised by Khares rise. The 19-year-old batsman, who didnt get a game during Indias Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, could have either been a revolutionary or a footnote. He considered moving states, along with the prospect of enrolling into an undergraduate science course from Delhi University on sports quota. Today, he is happy to have waited on the decision.I was ready with my application, but in the same week, we got news of the affiliation, Khare says. My parents were supportive, but after the Under-19 World Cup, they were worried Id hit a dead end like many other cricketers from this region. Fortunately now, that wont be the case and they are much more relieved than I am.Realising the need to fast-track their development ahead of their Ranji Trophy debut, CSCS appointed Sulakshan Kulkarni, the former Mumbai wicketkeeper, as the head coach for a three-year term. Kulkarni, who has been a part of six Ranji Trophy winning teams as a player and four as coach, the last of which came in 2012-13 under Ajit Agarkars captaincy for Mumbai, was returning to the domestic set-up for the first time since 2013-14.Developing sides have nothing to lose, Kulkarni says. If you take one person to the next level, theres a big lift within the group. So thats why I wanted to work here. The background of Chhattisgarh was impressive. They have shown big improvement in in junior cricket, which is the heart of any association. Ranji Trophy is merely the face.The face of this team will be Mohammad Kaif, the former India batsman who has moved from Andhra, and is the only professional cricketer within the set-up. At 35, the end may be closer, but Kaif knows a thing or two about captaincy, having led India to the Under-19 World Cup win in 2000, and then Uttar Pradesh to their only Ranji title till date, in 2005-06.Kulkarni, meanwhile, already has a road map in place. He says the passion he has seen among the local administrators is unparalleled. The need to give back to the game, as he calls it, has taken a completely different meaning.****The drive from Raipur to the international stadium, 25km away, in Naya Raipur is a unique one. Congested main roads and narrow bylines dangling with wires on either side with movement of cows and cattle apart from a colony of rickshaws and street hawkers suddenly open up into an eight-lane expressway that has malls and scores of cranes coming up.Then after a stretch of nothingness emerges a majestic modern-day marvel out of nowhere. It somewhat mirrors the growth of cricket in Chhattisgarh - a steady rise, but not without its fair share of upheavals. For a generation of cricketers who grew up not knowing where they would ply their wares, the time is now. Cyber Monday Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Custom Nike San Diego Padres Jerseys . JOHNS, N. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-texas-rangers-jerseys/ . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Custom Nike San Francisco Giants Jerseys . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Custom Nike Oakland Athletics Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Its another challenging week with six teams on a bye again, plus some other notable injuries to contend with. Your lineup may look far from ideal this week, but the same holds true for others in your league.If you deftly worked the waiver wire and are well informed, you should be set up well during Week 9. But if you are still struggling to roll out an adequate fantasy crew, well get you in position to win as every victory now becomes magnified in terms of determining playoff positioning.FILLING IN FOR PATSThe Patriots are on a bye, which means you have to fill in for Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and LeGarrette Blount. At quarterback, you can consider Colin Kaepernick, who faces the Saints 28th-ranked pass defense and can at least give you adequate production because of his rushing potential. A good statistical result would be if he throws more than one TD pass or runs in a score. He is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league and anything he can additionally provide you with in the passing game in a friendly matchup will be a welcome bonus. Dak Prescott takes on a Browns team that has allowed an NFL-high 19 TD passes and Ryan Tannehill opposes the Jets, who have the leagues lowest-ranked pass defense.TIGHT END REPLACEMENTSIn addition to finding a sub for Gronkowski this week, fantasy owners may also have to replace Jordan Reed, Tyler Eifert and others at tight end. St. Louis Lance Kendricks is a quality one week play or streamer against a Panthers defense that allows 12.2 fantasy points per game to the position according to FantasyPros.com, second-most among all teams. The Browns allow 11.7 FFPG to tight ends, third-most in the league, and while Jason Witten is not the fantasy producer he used to be, consider plugging him in as well.RUNNING BACK UNCERTAINTYBlount is possibly the most dependable TD producer in the game right now, and David Johnson is widely regarded as the best RB overall in fantasy. There is also uncertainty about the availability of Spencer Ware and LeSean McCoy. Many fantasy owners are digging deep for help at the position. Consider Seattles C.J. Prosise in point-per-reception formats, as he has big-play potential and can also be a safety target for Russell Wilson, who is hindered by injury. Derrick Henry could see an expanded role for the Titans this week as DeMarco Murray is dealing with a toe injury, and Tim Hightower saw more work last week and faces the 49ers, who have the leagues worst run defense by far. If you picked up Hightower, dont hesitate to use him. Miami has been vulnerable to RBs this year, so you can use Bilal Powell in PPR formats.WIDEOUTSSome top wide receivers on a bye innclude A.dddddddddddd. Green and Larry Fitzgerald, plus T.Y. Hilton has a hamstring problem that is making his availability uncertain. Very deep options include Torrey Smith, who could get a downfield shot or two to make some significant statistical contributions against New Orleans, and Kenny Stills against a Jets secondary that is very prone to giving up big plays. Kenny Britt opposes the Panthers, who have the worst pass defense in the NFC, and Darrius Heyward-Bey moves into the starting lineup against a Ravens defense that has allowed 14 TD passes.BIG BEN RETURNSBen Roethlisberger (knee) is expected to return this week, and should boost the outlook of those involved in the Steelers passing game. Fantasy owners will not need to worry about the production of Antonio Brown, and Sammie Coates can be returned to lineups as a third starting wide receiver. Tight end Ladarius Green is not quite ready to come back from an ankle injury, though, so expect Brown, Coates and Heyward-Bey to be the main receiving producers for Pittsburgh.CHARGERS INJURIESThe San Diego WR corps continues to deal with injuries, as Travis Benjamin has a sprained PCL and Tyrell Williams has a knee issue, but is expected to play. Look for Dontrelle Inman, a unique combination of size and downfield potential, to possibly see a larger role in the offense beginning this week. He may still be a free agent in some leagues.PHILLY RUNNERSThe running back situation in Philadelphia appears to be unclear. Darren Sproles is too small to carry a full load, but Ryan Mathews has been dealing with fumbling issues. Keep using Sproles as a flex player in a PPR league, because his pass-catching skills always make him relevant, but keep Mathews benched for now if you are not dealing with bye or injury issues. This situation could remain fluent.CARR VS. DENVERDerek Carr threw for a Raiders record 513 yards and four TDs in Week 8. His reward? A date with the leagues best pass defense this week as he takes on the rival Broncos. Denver tends to be more vulnerable to the run, so the Raiders may lean some more on their ground game and this could be a lower-scoring affair between familiar divisional rivals. Carr totaled 425 passing yards and two TDs in the two games prior to his explosion last week, so dont assume he is surefire starter based on momentum. He may not be a top 10 fantasy QB this week and it would not be crazy to use Kaepernick over him.---This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com ' ' '