On Wednesday former India wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer and ex-COA member Diana Edulji had shown a difference of opinion in public where Edulji venting out her anger. The controversial Farokh Engineer made a comment on the reference about the credentials of the ex-CoA, where Diana Edulji was a member, citing that the committee was a “waste of time”. During the Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture, Edulji, who was an invitee, took the opportunity to reply to her friend, who was also there.

“I just heard Farokh saying Parsis don’t have a dirty bone in their body. I would like to know, you spoke a lot about the current selectors, in that statement you passed a snide remark about me. I would like to tell you, I played 30 Test matches too, so that is not little cricket I played. You said she (Edulji) has hardly played any cricket…,” Edulji said.

Farokh Engineer had earlier asked the working of the CoA.

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“I speak my mind. I said something that the CoA was a waste of time and I meant that. I don’t think much came out of it (CoA) really and the money that was paid or spent — (in) crores — could have been better utilised grassroot cricket in the country,” he had said earlier. “There was nothing personal against you (Diana Edulji). About the selectors I spoke earlier and there was reason for that comment.”

Later, Diana Edulji said that the CoA, led by former CAG Vinod Rai, was formed with a purpose for the future.

“CoA was brought in with a purpose. We covered a lot of ground, we tried to improve the standard of cricket, the infrastructure. The players have benefited a lot and that’s why the performance of the teams — both men and women — have been outstanding. I think we could have done more,” she said. “I am glad that it’s now run by a cricketer. That’s what Justice (RM) Lodha (panel) wanted, to let the cricketers have a say. Let’s hope that they do well.”