Shoaib Akhtar has very expensive landings: Rs 500,000-plus worth! That’s how costly his shoes are, customised for the pacer, the thumb-escape (front open) to reduce pressure while landing and all.The fiery paceman carries at least five pairs of these shoes with him in his kit to ensure foot injuries are kept at bay. Injuries have been Shoaib’s bane, given his long run-up and the pressure that is exerted on his ankle and knee.Shoaib has been involved in several controversies concerning his fitness in the past but since his comeback during the England series recently, he has played in all the games for Pakistan except when he was rested for the final one-dayer against England that Pakistan lost at Rawalpindi.Pakistan need Shoaib to fire in the series against India and the bowler himself is keen to atone for his failures when the Indians last visited Pakistan in 2004. And his insistence on wearing the special shoes might have something to do with this fact. (PTI)
