Cricket New South Wales has taken the decisive step of standing down fast bowler Ross Pawson, following the launch of a police investigation into allegations of sexual touching. The 31-year-old, who has represented the NSW Blues and the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, has had his registration cancelled indefinitely.
Police Investigation and Immediate Suspension
Detectives from the NSW State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad confirmed they are conducting inquiries after the allegations against Pawson were formally reported on Wednesday 10 December 2025. "Detectives from the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad have commenced an investigation and inquiries are continuing," a NSW Police statement confirmed. It was emphasised that no charges have been laid and the investigation remains ongoing.
Upon learning of the serious complaint, Cricket NSW convened an emergency board meeting. The outcome was swift: Pawson's registration to play was permanently cancelled with immediate effect, resulting in an indefinite suspension from all cricket-related activities. "We cannot comment further on this matter while investigations are ongoing," a spokesperson for the governing body stated.
Pawson's Denial and Career Impact
Ross Pawson has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. In a statement provided to the Sydney Morning Herald, he declared, "I completely deny the allegation. It is absolutely rubbish!" Despite his protestations, the immediate professional consequences are clear. His profile has been removed from the list of contracted players on the NSW Cricket website.
Pawson's career highlights include:
- Playing two first-class matches for NSW, including a Sheffield Shield debut in February.
- Featuring in one T20 match for the Sydney Thunder during the 2023 Big Bash League finals.
Club-Level Fallout and Ongoing Process
The allegations are reported to stem from Pawson's time playing grade cricket for the Northern District club. It is understood an initial complaint was made to the club, which then passed the information to Cricket NSW. While unconfirmed publicly, media reports suggest there may be more than one complainant.
A Northern District spokesperson confirmed the club was aware of the situation and acted promptly upon notification. Mirroring the state-level action, Pawson has been suspended from all club activities while the police investigation proceeds.
NSW Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, reminding the public not to report details via their social media channels. The cricket community now awaits the conclusion of the formal investigation.
