English cricket chief David Morgan yesterday rubbished suggestions that Andrew Flintoff's reluctance to tour Zimbabwe had been covered up and insisted that any player who subsequently pulled out of the 14-man squad on moral grounds would escape censure.

All-rounder Flintoff said he informed the England management last week that his conscience would not allow him to partake in the trip, although the hierarchy maintained on numerous occasions that no individual other than Steve Harmison had expressed concern.

Unlike close friend Harmison, who pulled out of consideration 11 days ago, Flintoff did not make his thoughts public until after the squad was announced.

As England's two most prominent match-winners, the selectors wanted to grant both extended recuperation time at home following a relentless 2004 schedule which has so far included 11 Tests and 20 limited-overs contests.

It was widely expected that Flintoff would follow the lead of Harmison, who made his declaration in his Sunday newspaper column, but the current Vodafone player of the year was officially rested.

''We are not in the business of covering up the consciences of our cricketers,'' insisted England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Morgan.

''It would be nonsense to think that.

''We have respected the view of Steve Harmison and we respect Andrew Flintoff's view.

''I have made it absolutely clear throughout that any England player not wishing to go to Zimbabwe for reasons of personal conscience will not be penalised.''

Chairman of selectors David Graveney rang those under consideration at the weekend to inquire if they would be willing to go to the terror-strewn African country.

That came hours after Andrew Strauss conceded he was troubled by the prospect, while veteran Darren Gough has since revealed lingering reservations.

Fringe players elevated to the full squad due to the absence of Flintoff, Harmison and Marcus Trescothick, who is also resting, were given minimal notice to decide on their availability.

But Morgan, who met with the core of the party during the final npower Test at The Oval last month to urge them to make themselves available for the sake of the English game and world cricket in general, reiterated that no-one would be ostracised for boycotting the five matches, which start in late November.

''The players have been aware for quite some time of our position and we have made it clear that all players will be treated the same,'' said Morgan.

''Of course, if any individual develops moral reservations between now and then it will be looked upon in a similar way. Why should it not be? My position and the board's position is very clear on this.''

Despite considering scratching the tour in the first two months of this year, the ECB have been persuaded to fulfil their commitments by the International Cricket Council rather than face a mandatory £1.1m fine and possible suspension under the future tours programme agreement, rubber-stamped at March's annual board meeting in Auckland.

In addition to the threat of being hit in the pocket, as they were for missing their 2003 World Cup fixture in Harare, Morgan has also maintained that England have a duty to protect the integrity of the international game.

Having been involved in seemingly endless emotional meetings in Cape Town hotels on whether to commit to that fixture last February, however, 26-year-old Flintoff did not want to put himself through the mental anguish of being in the midst of demonstrations and reprisals in a country gripped by Robert Mugabe's autocratic regime.

''This is a totally personal decision on my part and I wish the lads all the luck in the world,'' said Flintoff.

''I made up my mind 18 months ago that I wouldn't go to Zimbabwe unless things improved dramatically, and they clearly haven't.

''But I wanted to wait until all our cricket this summer was finished before telling anybody of my decision.

''Going public like this is something I want to do. There's been a lot of speculation, but I want people to know how I feel.

''I told the captain Michael Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher last week that I wasn't available for the tour.

''Nothing has changed since all those meetings and problems we had in Cape Town before the start of the last World Cup.

''In fact, from everything I read and heard, things have got worse in Zimbabwe.

''Most of us have seen images from the African country and the situation looks horrific."

Meanwhile, the ICC's hearing into alleged racism by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union towards 15 white 'rebel' cricketers began in Harare yesterday, the findings of which could yet impact on England's plans