Former Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer and legendary West Indies captain Clive Lloyd will be honored with stands named after them by their former county club Lancashire at the iconic Old Trafford Stadium. This tribute will be conferred during the fourth Test match between India and England.
The 87-year-old Engineer played for almost a decade with Lancashire, while the 80-year-old Clive Lloyd, former captain of the West Indies, was associated with the club for two decades, making an indelible contribution to its history.
Sources informed PTI that the stand naming ceremony might be held on the first day of the Test match commencing on July 23. England currently leads the gripping five-match series 2-1.
From 1968 to 1976, Farokh Engineer scored 5,942 runs, caught 429 catches, and made 35 stumpings across 175 matches for Lancashire. As a wicketkeeper-batsman, Engineer played 46 Test matches for India, scored 2,611 runs at an average of 31.08, took 66 catches, and made 16 stumpings.
Clive Lloyd, who led the West Indies to two World Cup victories (1975, 1979), transformed the club as an overseas player in the early 1970s.
Source: aajtak
Born in Mumbai, Engineer debuted for Lancashire when the club hadn’t won a major title for over 15 years. He helped them secure the Gillette Cup four times between 1970 and 1975.
Engineer and Lloyd will both be immortalized in Lancashire's history at the end of this week. Interestingly, there isn't a stand named after Engineer at Brabourne Stadium where he predominantly played his cricket.
Engineer reminisced on the club's website a few years ago, 'Those were incredible times, and Old Trafford was a magnificent place. People would travel miles to watch us play.'
He recounted, 'From the dressing room at Old Trafford, we could see Warwick Road Station. Before matches, packed trains would arrive, and people would alight. You could hear their conversations, laughter, and joy clearly.'
Engineer fondly remembered the letters from fans during his golden days. He said, 'It was remarkable; our lockers would be filled with autograph requests and party invitations. The entire country was abuzz about the great team, featuring names such as Clive Lloyd, Harry Pilling, Peter Lever, and Ken Shuttleworth.'
After retirement, Engineer made Manchester his home and continues to reside there. Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar, currently on a private visit, is also expected to attend the ceremony.
