Taibu would have loved to see all England's top players on the tour

Steve Harmison pulled out on political grounds while Andrew Flintoff said he would also boycott.

Officially Flintoff, along with Marcus Trescothick, accepted an England and Wales Cricket Board invitation to rest during next month's tour.

"We would have loved for all of their players to come. We want to play against the best," said Taibu.

England are scheduled to play five one-day internationals in November.

"I think politics and sports should be separated," added Taibu.

"Whoever has replaced Harmison would obviously be good enough to represent his country. But it is disappointing not to face Harmison who has been doing so well."

I think that politics and sport should be separated Tatenda Taibu Fixtures: England in Zimbabwe

The ECB decided to go ahead with the Zimbabwe tour in spite of reservations among players about political repression in the country.

England faced the prospect of a heavy fine by the International Cricket Council if they pulled out.

Zimbabwe cricket has also been in turmoil since April when 15 white rebel players walked out of the team accusing the Zimbabwe Cricket Union of racism.

An ICC committee has suspended Zimbabwe's Test programme until the end of the year and is due to submit its report on the allegations this weekend at an ICC executive board meeting in Lahore.

Zimbabwe return home from Pakistan having lost three one-day internationals in a tri-series but Taibu said the experience would serve them well against England.

"England is a better team and since we are looking to keep going forward we need to be playing against better teams."