An artist’s impression of the key elements of the Anglo Indian development proposition

Mamata Banerjee, who wants to bring London to Calcutta, may be intrigued to learn her wish may get fulfilled in a rather unexpected way.

A British property company, Anglo Indian, is hoping to build a residential complex in or near Calcutta with more than a touch of Lord’s, “the home of cricket”.

And what’s crucial, this dream has the blessings of the splendid chaps who run the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

According to details disclosed to The Telegraph by Simon Reid, a real estate man who is chairman of Anglo Indian, the community will be built around a cricket ground.

There will be indoor nets for when the monsoon lashes Calcutta with actual sahib coaches flown in from the UK or locals trained in England to tell youngsters things like: “Mrinmay, how many times must I tell you but no gap between bat and pad.”

There will also be a club house, a pavilion, a tavern rather like the one that nestles by Lord’s to serve a pint of best bitter, plus schools, banks and other essential amenities.

Of course, no place in the world can be quite like Lord’s, revered as the sport’s Mecca, but the idea is to create 12 residential complexes in India where residents are brought together by their love of the gentlemen’s game.

Calcutta, Delhi and Mumbai are at the top of the list of where the complexes will first be built, it was revealed after a news conference in the hallowed Long Room at Lord’s attended by Reid himself, along with, among others, Keith Bradshaw, secretary and chief executive of the MCC. Anglo Indian also fielded a director with the evocative name, Robert Clive.

Two agreements were announced on Monday. Anglo Indian, a real estate development and investment company, registered in Mauritius to ease flow of funds in and out of India, has become the first sponsor of the MCC Cricket Academy. “In another historic first”, a brand licence agreement has been signed between MCC Overseas Ltd (MCCO), a newly incorporated subsidiary of the MCC, and Anglo Indian. “MCCO has licensed Anglo Indian the right to use some of MCC’s marks in India in connection with a range of high quality cricket facilities — each branded and inspired by the MCC and Lord’s — to be built in up to 12 new residential communities,” it was announced.

Most cricketing equipment, books and other paraphernalia sold in the cricket shop at Lord’s will be available in Calcutta, Reid assured The Telegraph. “Yes, including cricket sweaters.”

The residential apartments or houses could be used as “holiday homes or second homes”. And the cost? Depending on location, it could go from Rs 300 a sq ft to Rs 15,000 a sq ft.

Anglo Indian is negotiating with developers and builders in India. It is talking to two candidates in Calcutta. Talks are also going on with a number of cricketers, past and present. It is appreciated that their presence would add glamour to a complex.

“The MCC (founded in 1787) and the Lord’s brands are revered the world over and we are delighted to be taking part of them to India for the first time,” said Reid, glancing out of the window where he could see groundsmen preparing the wicket for the start of the first Test against India on Thursday.