How a flight to Brisbane saved cricket nuffy Shikha Pandey and led to Brisbane Heat signing

They call her Shikhapedia but she once had to seek out someone who knew even more about the game to save her career. ROBERT CRADDOCK speaks to Brisbane Heat WBBL recruit Shikha Pandey.

Indian cricket allrounder Shikha Pandey will be playing for Brisbane Heat in the WBBL. Picture: Queensland Cricket

WHEN it seemed every cricketer in the world was heading to India for the big bucks, former Air Force squadron leader Shikha Pandey opened her wallet and headed in the opposite direction.

Allrounder Pandey, 35, will make her first appearance for the Brisbane Heat in the opening round of the Women’s Big Bash League against the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday in a satisfying reward for the bold and unorthodox reconstruction of her career.

Two years ago, after being left out of the Indian ODI World Cup squad, she paid her own way to Brisbane to undergo a pre-season in the Queensland Premier League and speak to Australian women’s great Belinda Clarke about how to reshape her future.

Pandey relished the way Clarke gave her “empathy not sympathy’’ and her career revival saw her earn a spot in the 2023 T20 India World Cup squad and be named in the team of the tournament in the Women’s Premier League this year after starring for the Delhi Capitals.

Pandey was named in the Women’s Premier League team of the tournament this year. Picture: Queensland Cricket

“I was falling out out of love with the game and I sent a letter to Belinda Clarke not even expecting a reply,’’ Pandey said.

“She came back and said I should do a leadership course and it was amazing. I learnt a lot. When I did that she said why don’t you go for a pre-season in Australia.

“I paid for my trip and played for Wynnum which was so much fun and played with a great group of young girls.’’

A one-time, squadron leader in the India Air Force where she worked as an air-traffic controller at major air force bases, Pandey is known as Shikhapedia and is a self-confessed cricket nuffy who used to rise before the sun to watch Tests in Australia on television.

“It has changed a lot. There was not much women’s cricket on television so I could not persuade my parents to take up cricket as a profession but its changed and there has been a huge push in Australia that you cannot be what you cannot see.’’

Pandey has returned to the Indian squad after it looked her career was over. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

“Growing up I used to love Test match cricket and get up at 4.30am to watch the Ashes. I am a bowler who bats so I loved the wickets package more than the run package. I like watching Andrew Flintoff and Jacques Kallis.

“As a kid growing up I had two dreams (cricket and the Air Force) and was lucky enough to be able to do both. So much of what I learnt in the Air Force helped me in cricket.

“I am a cricket nuffy. I love watching cricket. When I am at home I have the Cricket Australia App and watch a lot of matches. I met Ian Healy at our team dinner and was very excited.’’

The only cricketer from Goa – male or female – to represent India, Pandey will provide the Heat with an extra new ball option as well as extra top order crunch.’

Originally published as How a flight to Brisbane saved cricket nuffy Shikha Pandey and led to Brisbane Heat signing