Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak is bringing his side to England

Zimbabwe's cricketers have arrived in Britain pleading with protesters not to disrupt their two-month tour.

Opponents of Robert Mugabe's regime in the country have threatened to use "hit and run" tactics to disrupt matches.

Activists have said action could include invading pitches wearing black armbands or cricket flannels covered in blood.

But at Lord's on Thursday captain Heath Streak said he would not hesitate to lead his team off the field if he felt it was unsafe.

Outside the north-west London cricket ground, 10 protesters waved banners saying: 'No cricket while Mugabe kills' and 'Latest score: Zimbabwe 3,409 tortured, 260 killed'.

They were led by Stop the Tour organiser Peter Tatchell, who has tried to have Mr Mugabe arrested for alleged human rights violations.

Fast bowler Mr Streak said he respected the right to peaceful protest but added: "We hope they in turn respect our right to carry out our trade.

"We respect other people's views and we just hope our views and our players can be respected the same."

Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) chairman Peter Chingoka said: "It is very disappointing that cricket is being singled out in this fashion when no other sport is subject to such action and trade and commerce between the UK and Zimbabwe continues to flourish."

Our job is to develop and sustain cricket in a country facing economic hardship ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka

"More than 300 British companies do business in our country and Zimbabwean goods and services are sold freely in the UK."

The tour had the "full support of the cricket community", Mr Chingoka added.

"Cricket in our country is a truly integrated, multi-racial sport and offers opportunity to Zimbabweans of all backgrounds.

"The ZCU is an apolitical organisation, with staff drawn from a diverse cultural and ethnic base.

"We are not involved in politics.

We don't think the Zimbabwe cricketers are any more the henchmen of Robert Mugabe than the England players are the foot soldiers of Tony Blair ECB chief executive Tim Lamb

"Our job is to develop and sustain cricket in a country facing economic hardship.

"Earning money from tours is so important to fund our development objectives and bring sport and recreation within the reach of our young people.

"But for us it is more than simply how much we can earn.

"This tour is a very significant one for cricket in our country."

But former sports minister Kate Hoey told BBC News: "As someone who loves cricket, I would normally be going to the test matches - but I will be protesting.

"Everybody who cares about the terrible things happening in Zimbabwe will be protesting."

Every time a run is scored, as the runs are mounting up so are the scores of people who are being murdered, beaten up and tortured Former sports minister Kate Hoey

The Labour MP added she was disappointed the government had failed to condemn the tour.

"I don't think you can play a normal cricket match against a country like Zimbabwe.

"Every time a run is scored, as the runs are mounting up so are the scores of people who are being murdered, beaten up and tortured."

The England cricket team pulled out of a World Cup match in Zimbabwe after widespread criticism and a government plea.

But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) maintained the decision was made on security rather than moral grounds and it supports the Zimbabwean tour.

'Double standards'

"I don't believe that it is our remit as a cricket administration to make moral and political judgements about the various governmental regimes around the world," ECB chief executive Tim Lamb told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He said it would be "double standards" to boycott the cricket team.

Mr Lamb said: "Zimbabwean golfers, tennis players and footballers are all free to compete in international sporting events without impediment.

"Why should Zimbabwean cricketers be any different?"

People who have a bone of contention with the government of Zimbabwe will have a platform to speak out against it Henry Olonga

"We don't think the Zimbabwe cricketers are any more the henchmen of Robert Mugabe than the England players are the foot soldiers of Tony Blair."

Henry Olonga, who along with team-mate Andy Flower, wore a black armband in his country's World Cup opener to show his opposition to Mugabe, said he reluctantly supported the tour.

He said it would put the human rights abuses perpetrated by Mugabe "in the spotlight".

"These people who have a bone of contention with the government of Zimbabwe will have a platform to speak out against it," he told Today.

Since his protest, Mr Olonga has left Zimbabwe and is living in England. He has been given a six-month work permit.

He said he feared he would be imprisoned or framed for something he did not do.

"It has happened to others," he said.

The Zimbabwean tour starts on Saturday with a match against British Universities at Edgbaston.

They play two Tests, at Lord's and Durham's Riverside ground, and at least six matches in the one-day NatWest Series, which also involves South Africa.