Debasis Sen from Manchester
Former India wicketkeeper-batter, Farokh Engineer will inaugurate a stand named after him at Old Trafford before the start of Day 1 of the England-India Test, on Wednesday, July 23. Clive Lloyd, the West Indian legend, will also be honoured with a stand. Both Engineer and Lloyd represented the county for nearly a decade and brought a lot of glory. Engineer will be the first cricketer from India to have a stand named after him in England. The two cricketers will not just unveil the stands but also ring the bell.
“It’s an absolutely huge honour — not just for me, but for my country. No Indian cricketer has ever had a stand named in any stadium here in England. Not even someone like Sachin Tendulkar, who certainly deserves one. So, this means a lot,” said Engineer in an exclusive interaction with Revsportz.
He added, “We never played for money in our time; we played for the honour of representing our country. When I was invited to play county cricket in England, I had offers from Worcestershire, Somerset, Hampshire, and Lancashire. I chose Lancashire, and I’m so glad I did. The way the people there welcomed me — it became a second home for me.”
According to Engineer, “I’m Indian at heart, always Desi, and immensely proud of it. So, I see this as an honour for India more than just for myself. The Farokh-Engineer Stand is a recognition of Indian cricket, and I’m deeply humbled.”
The veteran Indian cricketer joined Lancashire County back in 1966. He got quite nostalgic reminiscing old memories. “I joined Lancashire in 1966. One of the highlights for me was the chance to keep wickets to Brian Statham, one of the finest fast bowlers in the world. It was an incredible experience — he bowled at express pace, around 90 to 100 miles per hour. Back then, we didn’t have speed guns, but his accuracy and the way he swung and seamed the ball both ways made him deadly,” Engineer noted.
Engineer was given the nickname ‘Butlin’ by former Lancashire captain Jack Bond. The nickname stemmed from the fact that Engineer used to dive across and look for catches in front of the first slip fielder and that felt like holidaymakers going to Butlin’s.
Over the years, the 87-year-old cricketer has earned a lot of respect at the Lancashire County Cricket Club. “The club has always treated me well. I was made a lifelong Vice-President and later honoured as a Legend of the Club. I also have a suite named in the Hilton hotel. And now a stand named after me, it feels surreal,” said Engineer.
On being asked about the memorable matches he played during his stint for the county, Engineer said: “There were so many but one that stands out is the Gillette Cup semi-final at Old Trafford against Gloucestershire. It was such a dramatic match that it went on till almost midnight — unheard of in those days. I have been fortunate to play alongside players like Mike Proctor, John Mortimore, Harry Pilling, Peter Lever, Jack Simmons and Ken Shuttleworth. Those were golden days for the county.”
It has been a struggle for Lancashire in the last decade, failing to win a major trophy. Last time the ‘Red Roses’ won the County Championship was back in 2011 after a gap of 77 years since the club’s last outright title in 1934. Engineer is disappointed to see Lancashire’s decline compared to its biggest rivals Yorkshire, who have won 33 County Championships, the most by any side in English domestic cricket.
“It is disappointing. In our time, we used to beat Yorkshire quite comfortably. But today, things have changed. Still, there are some promising players coming through, and I hope the team regains its former glory. Who knows — maybe the new stand brings some good luck,” signed off Engineer.
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