Anti-Mugabe protest at Lord’s Test

EXILED victims of President Robert Mugabe’s regime staged a noisy protest at Lord’s cricket ground as play began in the first match of the England-Zimbabwe cricket Test series.

Dozens of demonstrators played and sang in the rain while waving placards outside the north London ground yesterday. Nearly 100 MPs have accused the England and Wales Cricket Board of “putting profit before principle” by allowing the tour to go ahead.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, leader of the Stop The Tour protest campaign, has said his group felt under no obligation to “show restraint”, as encouraged by the MCC cricket board.