Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower revealed Wednesday that his controversial anti-Robert Mugabe protest will continue despite enormous pressure on him to abandon the gesture.

Flower and team-mate Henry Olonga both donned black armbands in their opening match against Namibia to mark what they described as the death of democracy in Zimbabwe and lashed out at the violence and famine which has ravaged thecountry.

"We have had meetings, been spoken to often by cricket authorities and received letters. But we are not going to back down. How can we?" Flower asked.

After being reported to the International Cricket Council by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, and cleared of any wrongdoing, Flower toned down his protest to a black wristband in the team's second game against India in Harare.

Olonga was dropped for that match and for the game with Australia in Bulawayo last Monday, while Flower continued to play.

Both men were summoned to a meeting of the ZCU last  weekend where they warned to drop their protest or lose their places in the team.

Flower was going to be dropped for the game against  Australia until a group of senior players said they would not play in that match if the threat was carried out.

Flower, one of the world's top batsmen, said his protest will now be represented by wearing white armbands.

"We are standing up what is right," he said.