Hobart Hurricanes kept in dark over Queensland sex charges against Nikhil Chaudhary

The future of Hurricanes star Nikhil Chaudhary is in doubt after being acquitted of rape in a Townsville court this week because Cricket Tasmania says it was not told of the charges against him.

Nikhil Chaudhary. Hobart Hurricanes ahead of the BBL season. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The playing future of star Hobart Hurricane Nikhil Chaudhary has been placed in limbo, after Cricket Tasmania said they had not been made aware of Queensland sex charges against the player.

Mr Chaudhary’s trial in Townsville District Court began on Monday, after police charged the 27-year-old with one count of rape.

It was alleged that the Big Bash cricketer assaulted a woman in his vehicle on Townsville’s nightclub strip in May 2021.

After a three-day trial, the jury took an hour to find Chaudhary not guilty of rape, and not guilty of the alternative charge of sexual assault.

On Thursday, Cricket Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker said the organisation was seeking an urgent meeting with the all-rounder’s manager, claiming it had not been informed of the charges prior to the trial.

In February this year, the Hurricanes announced that the Indian-born leg-spinner had re-signed with the Tasmanian T20 franchise until 2027.

That deal now appears to be under review, after Mr Baker told the Mercury that Cricket Tasmania had been kept in the dark about Mr Chaudhary’s legal proceedings.

“Cricket Tasmania was unaware of the serious allegations that were raised in a Queensland court against Hobart Hurricanes player Nikhil Chaudhary,” Mr Baker said.

Mr Baker added Cricket Tasmania was “working through a process to understand what this will mean for Nikhil’s contract.”