Seven more Aussies may pull out of Zimbabwe tour

Seven Australian cricketers are reportedly considering whether to follow Stuart MacGill's lead and pull out of their tour to Zimbabwe next month.

MacGill announced yesterday that he was opting out of the tour on moral grounds, saying he "was uncomfortable about touring Zimbabwe at this point and maintaining a clear conscience".

Other players are said to be deliberating about whether to pull out of the trip. A source close to the team reportedly said: "They have been thinking about this for a long time. They are concerned about what is going on in Zimbabwe. "

The England squad will be watching developments closely. Michael Vaughan and his team have yet to discuss the issue in depth but many senior players are understood to have reservations about touring Zimbabwe in October.

Following a two-day meeting between the England and Wales Cricket Board and their Zimbabwean counterparts, the tour is certain to be approved by Lord's. But ECB chairman David Morgan said there would be no sanctions against anyone who decided to follow MacGill's example.