England arrive for reduced tour

Photo gallery: England's arrival

England's cricketers have arrived in Zimbabwe after a row over media accreditation was finally resolved.

They will now play only four matches after Friday's first limited overs international was cancelled.

The first game will be on Sunday in Harare, which will also stage the second, before they move to Bulawayo.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan said: "I think four matches in eight days is itself a hectic schedule."

He added: "Zimbabwe Cricket have indicated they will suffer a significant financial penalty as the result of there being one fewer match.

"We have made clear we don't think the ECB are liable for that loss."

The ECB only agreed to go ahead with the tour when a ban on some UK journalists entering Zimbabwe was lifted.

Read more: Journalist to risk deportation

As it happens, the Daily Mirror has called back its reporter Mike Walters while Derek Pringle of the Daily Telegraph is refusing to sign an assurance that he will only report on cricket.

The England team had stayed in South Africa while the last-ditch discussions took place over the tour, but finally flew to Harare on Friday morning.

The last 24 hours has been extremely disappointing and saddened the players for a number of reasons Richard Bevan Players' spokesman Players dismayed by crisis

They were then driven to their hotel accompanied by a small police escort. No anti-tour protesters were seen.

Later the players went through a light workout at the Harare Sports Club in front of a handful of security guards and some afternoon drinkers taking the air at the adjoining pub.

But Morgan stressed: "This is not an ordinary tour in any respect at all. We're concerned this tour should go smoothly, that there should be no demonstrations and no injury.

"We firmly believe that in order for closure of the Zimbabwe affair to take effect we need to play cricket here in Zimbabwe and that's what we're here for.

The England squad later took part in a training session

"I'm not immune from criticism, but I've had a fairly tough upbringing in business and industry and I'm just concerned I do the right thing.

"I cannot over-emphasise the importance of gaining closure on this affair and that will come once we've played the cricket."

Batsman Graham Thorpe, who no longer plays limited overs internationals but will be part of the Test squad in South Africa next month, voiced concern about the next few days.

He said: "The regime has toyed with the England cricket team. Now they've managed to get them into the country, you wonder what could happen next."

"That's surely a huge problem for the authorities who are running the game, not just in this country, but the International Cricket Council as well because they have manipulated a situation where England have to go and play out there.

Earlier, Morgan admitted the tour had been "close to being cancelled" at one stage.