On Sunday, when Shah Rukh Khan’s boys cross swords with Vijay Mallya’s Royal Challengers at Eden, the organisers — the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — have Mamata’s name on top of the list of special invitees.

Although the Railway Minister is yet to confirm if she would drop in for the match, the Jagmohan Dalmiya-led CAB administration is looking forward to her company at Eden tomorrow. Other high-profile invitees at the day-night opener in Kolkata include West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan, besides Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and senior state government officials.

The CAB’s special invite to Mamata is only in line with the political script playing out in Bengal of late with the Railway Minister’s growing fondness for Dalmiya & Co and Maidan cricket politics. While CAB officials say the invitation to Mamata is a routine courtesy, insiders in the cash-rich state cricket body say the CAB, which is facing the heat from the CPM-led state government and the Kolkata Police, is desperately reaching out to their political opponents. Ever since the floodlight fiasco during the India-Sri Lanka One-Dayer at Eden in December last year snowballed into a political alugfest, Mamata has been critical of CPM and Kolkata Police’s harsh stand towards the CAB, openly throwing her weight behind Dalmiya & Co. If Mamata shows up at the VVIP box of the BC Roy Club House for the Twenty20 match, it will only be seen as a growing bonhomie between the CAB and the Trinamool chief.

* SRK, Katrina to light up Eden

Knight Riders’ co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who did not come to the stadium for his team’s rousing opening match in Mumbai yesterday, arrived in the city this evening. He will show up at Eden at Sunday’s match alongside Bangalore Royal Challengers’ brand ambassador Katrina Kaif.

* All eyes on faulty floodlights