Zimbabwe will walk off if matches are disrupted

There were more police than protesters to greet officials of the Zimbabwean squad at Lord's yesterday following their arrival for a 10-week tour. Security at the home of cricket was tight and the dozen or so protesters who turned up failed to get into the ground.

As they gathered at the East Gate, organised by the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, their placards made clear their views. "No cricket while Mugabe kills" and "Latest score: 3,409 tortured, 260 killed" they read in reaction to the Robert Mugabe regime.

The England and Wales Cricket Board will have to be vigilant if they wish to avoid any of Zimbabwe's matches being disrupted. If demonstrations do take place, Heath Streak, the Zimbabwe captain, said he would have no hesitation in leading his side off the field

Peter Chingoka, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, stressed that the ZCU was an apolitical organisation. "This is a legitimate tour which has the full support of the cricketing community," he said. "There are no sporting sanctions that restrict Zimbabwean athletes and teams from competing freely around the world. Unfortunately, there is a campaign being mounted in this country to stop the tour proceeding. It is very disappointing that cricket is being singled out, when no other sport is subject to such action and when trade between the UK and Zimbabwe continues to flourish."

Tim Lamb, the ECB chief executive, said: "It upsets me when people say we are putting money before morality. We need to generate revenue to do the things we do from the playground to the Test arena. We do not think the Zimbabwean cricketers are any more the henchmen of Robert Mugabe than the England players are the foot soldiers of Tony Blair."

ZIMBABWE TOUR ITINERARY: 3-6 May v British Universities (Edgbaston); 9-12 v Worcestershire (Worcester); 15-18 v Sussex (Hove); 22-26 FIRST TEST (Lord's); 30 May-2 Jun v Middlesex (Shenley); 5-9 June SECOND TEST (Riverside); 13 v Ireland Belfast (CSG); 15 v Ireland (Eglinton); 17 v Somerset (Taunton); 19 v Hampshire (Southampton); 22 v Essex (Chelmsford); 26 NatWest Series v England (Nottingham); 29 NatWest Series v South Africa (Canterbury); 1 July NatWest Series v England (Leeds); 5 NatWest Series v South Africa (Cardiff); 6 NatWest Series v England (Bristol); 10 NatWest Series v South Africa (Southampton); 12 NatWest Series Final (Lord's).