AUCKLAND, Sept 14: New Zealand's premier cricket team, the Black Caps, charged for autographs when they toured England because they were besieged by professional autograph hunters, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Tuesday.

The practice has drawn criticism from authoritative cricket website Wisden Cricinfo, which said it was at odds with the game's traditional values. But NZC's public affairs manager Steve Addison said the Black Caps had charged for some autographs in response to being besieged by professional autograph hunters who aimed to sell the signed merchandise.

"There were 20 or 30 of them at a time with caps and cards which were not for personal use so the players got a bit annoyed," he said. -AFP