It was a day of rich emotions and proud legacies at Old Trafford as Lancashire County Cricket Club paid a fitting tribute to two of its cricketing stalwarts — Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd — by naming stands after them. The honour was unveiled on the opening day of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester, marking a moment of nostalgia and respect.
Farokh Engineer, the flamboyant former India wicketkeeper-batter, represented Lancashire between 1968 and 1976. In his 175 appearances for the club, he amassed nearly 6,000 runs, claimed 429 catches, and effected 35 stumpings. His arrival heralded a golden era for the club, notably helping them lift the Gillette Cup four times in six years.
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Remarkably, while he holds an iconic place in Manchester’s cricketing culture, Engineer, now 87, has no stand named after him in India — a fact that many Indian fans might find surprising. Clive Lloyd’s journey with Lancashire began in the early 1970s when he joined as an overseas player.
A fitting tribute to two icons of the game 🙌
Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd unveiled their stands at Old Trafford and rang the bell before the 4th Test.#SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #TeamIndia #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/FifJSPtR4j
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2025
The towering West Indies captain, who led his nation to two World Cup titles, played an instrumental role in reshaping the county’s cricketing ethos. His two-decade association went beyond the field, contributing immensely to Lancashire’s identity. The stands named in their honour now stand as enduring reminders of their service to English domestic cricket.
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As the ceremony unfolded off the field, India’s openers were scripting a solid beginning on it. Asked to bat first under overcast conditions, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul negotiated the early movement with admirable poise. The ball beat the bat multiple times, but the duo remained undeterred.
They brought up a steady fifty-run opening stand by the 18th over — only the third such instance for India at this venue. By lunch, India stood firm at 78 for 0, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 36 and Rahul on 40, setting the stage for a potentially commanding total.
