Farokh Engineer, the former India wicket-keeper, and Clive Lloyd, the West Indies legend, will have stands named after them at Old Trafford. Lancashire, their old county team, is doing this during the fourth Test between India and England.
Engineer played for Lancashire for almost ten years. Lloyd, who used to captain the West Indies, was with the club for twenty years. Both men greatly impacted the club’s history. Sources told PTI that the stand-naming might happen on the first day of the Test match, which starts on July 23. After three intense games, England is ahead in the five-match series, 2-1.
A source said, It’s a proper way to honor both club legends.
Between 1968 and 1976, Engineer, who is 87, played 175 matches. He scored 5942 runs, caught 429 balls, and made 35 stumpings for Lancashire. Lloyd, who captained the West Indies to two World Cup wins, changed the club’s luck after joining as an overseas player in the early 1970s.
When Engineer, who was born in Mumbai, began playing for Lancashire, the club hadn’t won a major title in over 15 years. He helped them win the Gillette Cup four times between 1970 and 1975.
Later this week, both Engineer and Lloyd will be remembered forever in Lancashire history. It’s interesting that Engineer doesn’t have a stand named after him at Brabourne Stadium, where he played most of his cricket.
Engineer told the club website a few years ago, Those were amazing times, and Old Trafford was an awesome place to be. People came from far away to watch us.
He remembered, From the Old Trafford dressing room, we could see Warwick Road railway station. Before the game, we’d see packed trains dropping off passengers on the platform. We could hear the excited chanting, chatter, and laughter.
Engineer also remembered getting fan mail during his peak years.
He said, It was wild. Our lockers were full of autograph requests and party invites. Everyone in England talked about that team, with names like Clive Lloyd, Harry Pilling, Peter Lever, and Ken Shuttleworth.
He added, That excitement lasted for years, and we were the most famous one-day team around. After he stopped playing, Engineer made Manchester his home and still lives there. Dilip Vengsarkar, the former India captain, is also expected to be at the ceremony. He’s in town for a personal visit, and senior club officials will be there, too.