'Pash for Cash' plan to battle 'fun police' at cricket

A supposed ban on same-sex kissing at New Zealand cricket matches has made headlines worldwide - but local fans are batting back.

The Beige Brigade, which calls itself a group dedicated to keeping cricket fun, says it will run a "Pash for Cash" competition during the upcoming West Indies tour.

It is a revolt against "fun police" who stopped two female fans kissing at the one-day international against Sri Lanka at Napier's Mclean Park last weekend, the group says.

A security guard moved quickly to stop the light-hearted pash between friends Richelle Fitzgibbon, 29, and Kelly Holdway, 20.

The story has been reported in Australia, Canada, Britain, the United States, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere.

Security and cricket officials argue that they were not banning same-sex or any other type of kissing, but trying to prevent the women from inciting ugly scenes among the cheering men in the crowd.

New Zealand Cricket marketing manager Peter Dwan said the kiss was part of "an on-going display" by the pair, who had been dancing on and off before the kiss.

The behaviour of the women made them and other women in the crowd the targets of inappropriate male attention and they were asked to tone down their behaviour.

"The judgment of the security guard had nothing to do with morality or sexuality but related to the safety of the crowd," Mr Dwan said.

But Beige Brigade co-founder Mike Lane said the guard's action was another example of "overreaction by the fun police at cricket matches".