Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

...AND THE CM BOWLED THEM OVER

For the fourth consecutiv­e year, Akhilesh Yadav’s team won the annual cricket match against bureaucrat­s

- Manish Chandra Pandey

FOURTH WIN IN A ROW

For the fourth consecutiv­e year, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s team won the annual cricket match against bureaucrat­s as part of the ongoing IAS week here on Sunday

CM MAKES QUICKFIRE 65

The chief minister’s team beat the bureaucrat­s’ team by two runs. The chief minister smashed a quick fire 65 runs, including 11 boundaries and a six.

CM LAUDS THE OFFICERS

Speaking on the occasion, the CM appreciate­d the cooperatio­n of officers in the developmen­t of the state and said he expected similar cooperatio­n from them in future as well.

SECURITY BREACHED

While first a woman, resident of LDA Colony, Kanpur road, went right up to the chief minister, later a man carrying his child breached the security again

For the fourth consecutiv­e year, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s team won the annual cricket match against bureaucrat­s as part of the ongoing IAS week here on Sunday.

The chief minister’s team beat the bureaucrat­s’ team by two runs. Cashing in on the opportunit­y, the CM smashed a quick half century, scoring 65 runs. He was later declared the man of the match.

Despite losing the match, sporting bureaucrat­s were heard whispering to each other: “Haar ke jeetne wale ko hi baazigar kehte hain (those who win despite losing are the real magicians).”

Four years ago, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had floated the idea of a cricket match between politician­s and bureaucrat­s to improve relations between the two pillars of governance.

Since its introducti­on in 2012, the sporting encounter has been an annual feature of the Civil Service Week where the CM has been regularly raising the issue of corruption.

Despite his ‘on-field’ brilliance, the CM conceded that his team’s win was possible because of the bureaucrat­s.

“I want to tell the chief secretary and his team that we have received a lot of support from them in running and manag- ing various key government projects like the Metro rail and Expressway. So it was befitting that they helped us in this match too,” he said after being named the man of the match for the fourth year running.

Chief secretary Alok Ranjan, APC Pravir Kumar said the aim behind the event was to improve the ties between the two pillars of governance. Raj Kamal, SDM Bakshi Ka Talab who took the CM’s wicket was reluctant to take credit and said: Why? “Oh, let it be.” When they batted, the bureaucrat­s timed their dismissal to perfection. Senior bureaucrat Anil Kumar Meena who posted the second best score of the match - after the CM - got out at a time when it seemed that he would help his team win.

I want to tell the chief secretary and his team that we have received a lot of support from them in running and managing various key government projects like the Metro rail and Expressway. So it was befitting that they helped us in this match too AKHILESH YADAV, chief minister Uttar Pradesh

 ?? DEEPAK GUPTA/ HT ?? CM Akhilesh Yadav savours a bowling success during a friendly T20 cricket match between CM XI and IAS XI at La Martiniere Ground, in Lucknow on Sunday.
DEEPAK GUPTA/ HT CM Akhilesh Yadav savours a bowling success during a friendly T20 cricket match between CM XI and IAS XI at La Martiniere Ground, in Lucknow on Sunday.
 ??  ?? Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav with the Best Batsman Trophy after the cricket match between CM’s XI and IAS XI in Lucknow on Sunday.(R) Chief minister’s wife Dimple with their children during the match.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav with the Best Batsman Trophy after the cricket match between CM’s XI and IAS XI in Lucknow on Sunday.(R) Chief minister’s wife Dimple with their children during the match.
 ?? ALL PICS BY DEEPAK GUPTA/HTPHOTO ??
ALL PICS BY DEEPAK GUPTA/HTPHOTO
 ??  ?? IAS XI go into a huddle to plan the team strategy for the match.
IAS XI go into a huddle to plan the team strategy for the match.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India