During the fourth Test match between India and England, Lancashire, their previous county team, will celebrate West Indies star Clive Lloyd and former Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer with stands named after them at Old Trafford. On July 23, the first day of the match, the naming ceremony is planned.
For almost ten years, Farokh Engineer represented Lancashire, winning over fans with his extravagant performances and style. One of the most recognisable players and leaders in Lancashire’s history, Lloyd was a member of the team for almost 20 years.
A source told Eastern Eye, “It is a fitting honour for the two legends of the club.”
Between 1968 and 1976, the 87-year-old Engineer played 175 games for Lancashire, completing 35 stumpings, taking 429 catches, and scoring 5,942 runs. In the early 1970s, Lloyd, a two-time World Cup-winning captain, joined the team as an overseas player and was instrumental in its success.
People would travel great distances to watch us perform: Farokh Engineer
The team had not won a major championship in more than 15 years when Engineer made his debut, but he assisted them in winning the Gillette Cup four times from 1970 to 1975. Later this week, the club will publicly recognise Engineer and Lloyd. The Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, where Engineer played the most of his domestic cricket matches, does not have a stand named in his honour.
“It was an amazing time, and Old Trafford was a wonderful place to be.” To watch us play, people would travel great distances. The Warwick Road railway station was visible from the Old Trafford dressing room, and before to the match, we would witness crowded trains disembarking from the platform. The enthusiastic chatter, laughter, and chanting were all audible to us,” Farokh Engineer recalled.
In the past, Lancashire was the most well-known club.
The exuberant cricket player also remembers the publicity the team was receiving at the time. After retiring, he moved to Manchester, where he still resides now.
It was incredible; requests for autographs and party invitations would fill our lockers. Everyone in England was talking about that fantastic team, which included players like Ken Shuttleworth, Peter Lever, Harry Pilling, and Clive Lloyd. We were the most well-known one-day team in the country, and that excitement persisted for years,” Farokh Engineer remarked.
Senior club executives and legendary cricketer and Engineer’s India teammate Dilip Vengsarkar, who is now on a personal tour in the UK, are also anticipated to attend the occasion.
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