In a first-of-its-kind tribute to cricketing greats, Old Trafford will be honouring Farokh Engineer, the legendary Indian wicketkeeper-batter, by naming a stand after him. The timing comes with the current India vs England Test series, giving the moment a sense of emotion and history.
Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd to Be Immortalized at Old Trafford
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Lancashire County Cricket Club will open two newly named stands at Old Trafford for India’s Farokh Engineer and West Indies legend Clive Lloyd – as per a PTI report. Both cricketers gave a lot to Lancashire cricketing heritage.
Ceremony Likely to Take Place on July 23
The naming ceremony is set to take place on July 23, the opening day of the fourth Test in the India vs England five-match series. The series stands at 2-1 in favor of England.
Farokh Engineer: The Indian Legend Who Reignited Lancashire’s Fortunes
A Mumbai-born player, Farokh Engineer represented Lancashire from 1968 to 1976. In his 175-match career, he scored 5,942 runs, took 429 catches, and performed 35 stumpings. Lancashire had suffered more than 15 years without winning a major title before Engineer’s arrival.
Engineer’s arrival at Old Trafford was a turning point for the team. He played an important role in Lancashire’s four Gillette Cup titles from 1970 to 1975. This one-day knockout tournament was a top-class domestic competition in England, which later became the Friends Provident Cup.
Clive Lloyd: A Giant of West Indies and Lancashire Cricket
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Engineer’s teammate, Clive Lloyd, also shares this honour. A two-time World Cup-winning captain for the West Indies, Lloyd played for Lancashire for two decades and transformed the team’s performance during his tenure.
A Nostalgic Tribute to the Glory Days at Old Trafford
Reflecting on his time at Lancashire, Engineer once told the club’s website:
“Old Trafford was a wonderful place to be. Fans would come from miles away just to see us play.”
He remembered the build-up before the game, with fans streaming in from Warwick Road railway station, filling the stadium with songs and laughter.
Craze of Fans and Stardom in England
Engineer reminisced about that Lancashire team’s record popularity:
“Our lockers were filled with party invitations and autograph requests. It was unbelievable.“
The galaxy of stars consisted not just of Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd, but also the likes of Harry Pilling, Peter Lever, and Ken Shuttleworth.
No Stand Dedicated to Farokh Engineer in India
Curiously, even though it’s his home ground, Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai does not have a stand named after him. This makes Lancashire’s gesture all the more important for the ex-Indian cricketer and fans.
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