Pavel Florin (born 12 February 1979) is a Romanian international cricketer who plays for the national cricket team as a bowler. Florin became well known while playing in the European Cricket League in 2019, when a video showing his bowling action went viral on social media.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 12 February 1979 Cluj, Transylvania, Romania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 1) | 29 August 2019 v Austria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 5 September 2021 v Luxembourg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 18 October 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career and reaction
editIn July 2019 Florin, who took up cricket at 32, bowled the penultimate over for Cluj in an ECL match against Dreux, and conceded 13 runs.[1] The video of the over received widespread attention on social media. Some people mocked Florin's bowling action,[2] others though praised him with former Australian bowler Shane Warne even offering to help Florin in future and England bowler Jofra Archer offering his respect to him.[3][4]
Florin, who found out about his sudden fame over lunch,[5] then did an interview, during which he admitted "Maybe someone says my bowling is not beautiful or not effective, but I don't care, because I love cricket."[6][7] Soon afterwards, he was invited to play cricket in Australia but was denied a visa.[8] The visa denial was soon overturned and he turned out for Surrey Hills Cricket Club.[9] Interest in Florin continued as he took wickets in Australia.[10][11] Florin was then invited to the Lord's Presidents box,[12] from which he rang the Lord's bell.[13]
Florin has also played in 13 Twenty20 Internationals for Romania taking 13 wickets and scoring 24 runs.[14] In June 2021, he was named in Romania's squad for the 2021 Sofia Twenty20.[15][16] Romania won the tournament, and Florin was joint highest wicket-taker alongside his teammate Sami Ullah.[17]
In July 2021 Florin once again made headlines, after taking a wicket in T10 game in the European Cricket League he ran to the commentary box to celebrate before shouting his team's name into a microphone.[18]
In early December 2022, Florin signed a 2-game ambassador deal with Big Bash League team, the Melbourne Stars. [19]
Personal life
editAside from playing cricket, Florin works as a bodyguard.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin becomes internet sensation after being mocked for his bowling action". Firstpost. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin hailed a hero for his eccentric bowling style". Evening Standard. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Romanian cricketer hailed as hero after admitting bowling action 'not beautiful'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "European Cricket League: Pavel Florin gets backing from Shane Warne". CNN. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Pavel Florin: The bodyguard who became a cult hero". ICC. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "My bowling is not beautiful but I don't care: Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin". India Today. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "'My bowling isn't beautiful, I don't care!' - Romanian Pavel Florin defends 'unusual' bowling style". BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Romanian cricket hero Pavel Florin denied visa to play in Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin set to play in Australia after visa refusal overturned". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Watch – Romania's Pavel Florin Goes Wild After Picking His First Wicket In Australia". Cricket Addictor. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Pavel Florin stuns opposition with unforgettable three-wicket haul to go with his three catches". news.com.au. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Pavel Florin: 'I came to England to speak with people. This is espionage'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Pavel Florin: I had the courage to play cricket – it's not fair to laugh at me". The Times. Retrieved 22 May 2021.(Subscription required.)
- ^ "Pavel Florin". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria to host 4-nation Sofia T20I tournament in June 2021". Czarsportz. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Sofia T20 International Tournament preview". Emerging Cricket. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "RECORDS / SOFIA TWENTY20, 2021 / MOST WICKETS". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "Pavel Florin runs to commentary box after taking a wicket in a bizarre celebration". Circle of Cricket. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Pavel Florin links with the Stars". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Bodyguard who is an ABD fan: Meet Romanian Pavel Florin, cricket's latest internet sensation". Indian Express. Retrieved 22 May 2021.