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A Romanian spinner famous/infamous for one of the most ungainly bowling actions ever seen on a cricket pitch is trying his luck in the Big Bash League’s upcoming Draft.
Pavel Florin’s bowling action was the subject of much bemusement when footage of him bowling in the European Cricket League went viral a few years ago.
A Transylvanian nightclub bouncer with a passion for cricket, the 43-year-old emailed BBL boss Alistair Dobson asking to be considered in the competition’s first player draft next month.
He is highly unlikely to be selected by one of the eight franchises but the BBL is open to the idea of handing him an ambassador role for the competition given his unique place on the global cricket scene.
When Florin’s action was ridiculed, some of the game’s biggest names rallied behind him, including the late, great Shane Warne, who offered a helping hand.
“If you need a helping hand then hit me up,” he posted on Twitter soon after Florin’s bowling action became a global hit.
Florin and Warne eventually met and the Romanian posted a photo of the two of them together, celebrating their shared love of the sport.
Florin has built up a fan base on social media with more than 10,000 followers on Twitter
He was even featured by the ICC for his exploits in 2019.
“Every night I work as a bodyguard and look after people. But the reality is that I love sports and sports is my real job. My bowling action is not beautiful but I don’t care because I love cricket,” he said in the interview.
“I was at lunch when some of my friends came and told me I was making cricketing headlines. Later, a TV crew appeared and started asking questions. I told them how I felt about the criticism of my bowling style. Up until then no one had ever taken any notice of me, let alone wanted to interview me about playing cricket.”
Nearly 200 players have nominated for the BBL’s draft with English power hitter Liam Livingstone likely to be taken with the first pick.
A BBL draft lottery was held last week with Melbourne Renegades scoring the No.1 selection ahead of their cross-town rivals, the Stars.
Brisbane Heat will select third, followed by the Sixers, Strikers, Scorchers, Thunder and Hurricanes.
The inaugural draft will be televised on Fox Cricket on August 28.
Nine of Livingstone’s countrymen are eligible to be retained by their BBL franchises:
Joe Clarke (Melbourne Stars)
Ian Cockbain (Adelaide Strikers)
Jordan Cox (Hobart Hurricanes)
Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers)
George Garton (Adelaide Strikers)
Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder)
Tymal Mills (Perth Scorchers)
Reece Topley (Melbourne Renegades)
James Vince (Sydney Sixers)
Among the other big names who have nominated are West Indies all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, former Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis, New Zealand batter Colin Munro and Afghanistani spinner Rashid Khan.
BBL player acquisition consultant Trent Woodhill said the competition would be reinvigorated by the addition of the Draft.
“The standard of nominations from England is exceptional, headlined by the likes of Liam Livingstone and Alex Hales, two of the world’s leading T20 players.
“The list is also filled with players who have shown outstanding recent form in other recent domestic competitions. We know England is a proven producer of top T20 talent.”
Afghanistan
Qais Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Waqarullah Ishaq, Rashid Khan, Izharulhaq Naveed, Naveen Ul Haq Murid, Hazratullah Zazai
England
Colin Ackermann (also Netherlands), Rehan Ahmed, Martin Andersson, Gus Atkinson, Josh Baker, Sonny Baker, Jake Ball, James Bracey, Danny Briggs, Henry Brookes, Brydon Carse, Matthew Carter, Jordan Clark, Joe Clarke, Josh Cobb, Ian Cockbain, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Matt Critchley, Liam Dawson, Brett D’oliveira, Jacobus Leus Du Plooy, Stephen Eskinazi, Laurie Evans, Matt Fisher, James Fuller, George Garton, Richard Gleeson, Lewis Gregory, Sam Hain, Alex Hales, Miles Hammond, Tom Hartley, Jack Haynes, Freddie Heldreich, Tom Helm, Ryan Higgins, Max Holden, Benny Howell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Danny Lamb, Jack Leaning, Jake Lintott, Liam Livingstone, Lewis Mcmanus, Ben Mike, Tymal Mills, Daniel Mousley, Steven Mullaney, Callum Parkinson, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Michael Pepper, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Adam Rossington, George Scrimshaw, John Simpson, Prem Sisodiya, Olly Stone, Tommy Taylor, Reece Topley, Liam Trevaskis, James Vince, Joe Weatherley, Ross Whiteley, Chris Wood, Luke Wood, Saif Zaib
Namibia
David Wiese (previously South Africa)
New Zealand
Todd Astle, Colin Munro
South Africa
Marchant de Lange, Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw
West Indies
Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Anderson Phillip, Kieron Pollard, Khary Pierre, Ravi Rampaul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, Tion Webster, Nyeem Young
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