Zimbabwe cricket tour to go ahead

The Zimbabwe cricket team will arrive in the UK this week for a controversial tour which seems certain to face a campaign of demonstrations that could be as disruptive as those which blighted the South African rugby tour three decades ago.

The team, led by captain Heath Streak, are due to fly in on Thursday, and will play two Test matches against England on 22 May and 5 June, as well as a series of one-day internationals.

Campaigners are already promising to target the tour in order to protest against the regime of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

In February, England withdrew from their scheduled World Cup match in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare over safety and security concerns. This time, however, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are determined that the matches – the Tests are to be played at Lords and the Riverside ground, Durham – will go ahead.

Despite the political position in the African republic worsening since February, the ECB has also agreed to England's tour of Zimbabwe next year in return for their trip here. The decision has angered civil rights groups.

Leading the demonstrations will be veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell, who is leading the "Stop the Tour" group. Mr Tatchell, who has a history of direct action, has been protesting against Zimbabwe since 1997.