ZCU Chief Pleads For Peaceful Tour

Heath Streak's tourists flew into Gatwick on Thursday morning to fulfil the itinerary set out in the International Cricket Council's programme.

There has been much talk of the ethics of hosting a side sent from a country gripped by Robert Mugabe's regime, but Chingoka argued that the 15 players should not be stopped from plying their trade.

"Unfortunately, there is a campaign being mounted in this country to stop the tour proceeding," he said.

"It is very disappointing that cricket is being singled out in this fashion, when no other sport is subject to such action and when trade and commerce between the UK and Zimbabwe continues to flourish.

"It is a fact that more than 300 British companies do business in our country and that Zimbabwean goods and services are sold freely in the UK."

There are no sporting sanctions in place that restrict Zimbabwe; their athletes competed in last year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester and Nick Price and Byron Black compete against British opponents in golf and tennis respectively.

Nevertheless, protesters were expected at Lord's, where the Zimbabweans were holding their first press conference.

Yet only 10 turned up, led by activist Peter Tatchell and bearing banners which read 'No Cricket While Mugabe Kills' and 'Latest Score: Zimbabwe 3409 Tortured, 260 Killed'.

It may be that a greater number are saving their ire for the Test in NW8 later this month.