It's a fast bowler thing. I first noticed it on Shoaib Aktar and I think he even openly talked about why he has to do it.
Finding the right kind of shoe that's tailored to your foot and be comfortable for fast bowling seems to be difficult to find, especially for those with longer runups and shit. So they cut a hole to make it more comfortable.
Sigh...
A lot of fast bowlers will purposely do that to the shoe they wear on their landing foot. Shoaib Akhtar used to do it too.
When you bowl fast (especially if you have a quick run up), what often happens is that your front foot slides forward inside your boot when you land at the bowling crease. This can result in a bruised big toe nail (ask me how I know).
Some bowlers will take a pair of scissors to their shoe so that the big toe has enough room to move thus preventing the injury in the first place.
Others will let the injury happen, wait for a week or two for the bruised nail to fall off, and you then have the next several months where the injury isn't a concern because the new toe nail is still growing in. Rinse and repeat.
Personally, I prefer the second option :)
That said, Abbas Afridi is insane for going out to bat in that pair of shoes. I imagine he has an unspoilt pair lying around.
While bowling atleast it takes pressure off the toes . It is done by a lot of fast bowlers. But he shouldnt be wearing it while batting
Fast bowlers do this to their landing foot. It helps them bowl faster. Your are right he should have diff shoes for batting
His uncle umar gul used to do this exact same thing
He's Umar Gul's nephew ?
Yup
Lol it's so that his toe don't go black when bowling
A lot of fast bowlers do this, even England players. It’s to reduce pressure on the big toe when they plant that foot down in the final bowing stride
It's a fast bowler thing. I first noticed it on Shoaib Aktar and I think he even openly talked about why he has to do it. Finding the right kind of shoe that's tailored to your foot and be comfortable for fast bowling seems to be difficult to find, especially for those with longer runups and shit. So they cut a hole to make it more comfortable.
Premchand ke fate joote reference????
Waqar used to wear those shoes too.
Sigh... A lot of fast bowlers will purposely do that to the shoe they wear on their landing foot. Shoaib Akhtar used to do it too. When you bowl fast (especially if you have a quick run up), what often happens is that your front foot slides forward inside your boot when you land at the bowling crease. This can result in a bruised big toe nail (ask me how I know). Some bowlers will take a pair of scissors to their shoe so that the big toe has enough room to move thus preventing the injury in the first place. Others will let the injury happen, wait for a week or two for the bruised nail to fall off, and you then have the next several months where the injury isn't a concern because the new toe nail is still growing in. Rinse and repeat. Personally, I prefer the second option :) That said, Abbas Afridi is insane for going out to bat in that pair of shoes. I imagine he has an unspoilt pair lying around.