Pakistan's tearaway bowler Shoaib Akhtar [Images] is sporting special, customised shoes for the high-profile series against India -- a pair of which costs a little more than half a lakh of rupees!

The fiery paceman carries at least five pairs of these shoes with him in the 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.

But the fast bowler is now hung up with these 500 pounds shoes which are open from the front to reduce the pressure on the feet while landing.

The 'Rawalpindi Express' has been involved in several controversies concerning his fitness in the past but since his comeback during the England [Images] 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.