MacGill pulled out before the team was announced

Stuart MacGill has pulled out of the trip and the Guardian newspaper claimed seven other squad members had doubts.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath said he wouldn't be "totally surprised" if there were more pullouts before the 14 May departure from Brisbane.

"The guys will get together there and have a chat there and work out our problems there," he said.

I was uncomfortable about touring Zimbabwe at this point in time and maintaining a clear conscience Stuart MacGill MacGill's full statement

The veteran told Australia's Nine Network television "I totally respect Stuart's decision. I have a slightly different point of view on it.

"I've got a lot of friends that live in Zimbabwe that I've spoken to and I base my decision more on the locals and the fact that they're looking forward so much to us touring."

Australia's cricket board has consistently said the side would only pull out if there were safety or security concerns

But MacGill said he had problems keeping a "clear conscience" playing under the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Batsman Darren Lehmann said he had harboured similar doubts but had made the decision to go ahead with the trip.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "What's going on there is totally wrong, but we must also consider the future of cricket in that country."

"If we don't tour, it could hasten the end of Zimbabwean cricket, and I don't see why cricketers should be used as political pawns."

"I did have a few doubts about whether to tour, but I spoke to one or two people and came to the conclusion that it would be useful for Australia to travel."