The first two captains to lead Northamptonshire CCC to major trophies have been honoured by the club.
New hospitality facilities in the Lynn Wilson Centre at the County Ground will henceforth be known as the Mushtaq Mohammad Suite and the Jim Watts Suite – recognising the skippers who lifted the Gillette Cup in 1976 and the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1980 respectively.
They join other distinguished past players – Allan Lamb, David Steele, Frank Tyson and Peter Willey – in having suites named after them, in addition to NCCC’s former Chairman and President Lynn Wilson.
Specially-designed panels, outlining the careers of each, will be placed outside each of the rooms.
Mushtaq Mohammad, one of the greatest cricketers to represent Pakistan, played for Northamptonshire between 1964 and 1977. In his penultimate season at the club he led the side to victory in the Gillette final against Lancashire, NCCC’s first major honour after 98 years of trying.
Jim Watts is widely acknowledged as being among the shrewdest captains in the County’s history, and deservedly brought silverware to Wantage Road in 1980 (his final summer of first-class cricket before retirement) when his team beat Essex in the ‘B&H.’
“Mushtaq and Jim are two of our club’s most distinguished figures,” commented chairman Gavin Warren.
“We’re delighted to have this opportunity to honour them in an appropriate way and look forward to welcoming them to their own suites in the near future.
“Heritage is an important part of what we do at Northamptonshire. It’s excellent to have an opportunity like this to relive two of the greatest victories in our history.
“We hope the records and achievements of these two gentlemen will inspire the club’s players – present and future.”
Pictured: Northants Chairman, Gavin Warren with former player Mushtaq Mohammad and members of Pakistans management team, Major Azhar Arif (Pakistan Security Manager) and Talat Malik (Pakistan Manager).