Sachin pulls out of Olympic torch relay

New Delhi; Islamabad: Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out of the Olympic torch relay to avoid aggravating a groin injury, a source close to him said.

Tendulkar, 35, was expected to be one of the star runners during the Indian leg of the relay here today, but opted out on the advice of his doctors.

"Sachin has been advised not to take part in the relay as a precautionary measure," the source said. "He has not fully recovered from the groin injury."

Heightened security

Meanwhile, thousands of Pakistani police and paramilitary soldiers were deployed in Islamabad for the relay, as Australia braced for clashes between pro-Tibet supporters and Chinese students.

Embarking on the first leg of its relay in Asia after being beset by protests through Europe and the Americas, the torch arrived in the Pakistani capital amid heightened security even though officials said there had been no specific threat.

Pakistan is a staunch ally of China and officials said they did not expect any anti-China protests as there is no Tibetan community in Pakistan.