Did Saud Shakeel channel his inner Rahul Dravid?

Pakistan’s middle-order batter Saud Shakeel took 42 balls to get off the mark in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand in Karachi.

It must be noted that record for the most dot balls faced before getting off the mark lies with England’s John Murray, who played 79 before scoring his first run in the 1962-63 Ashes Test against Australia.

After watching Shakeel’s dogged resistance, netizens were left wondering if he channeled his inner Rahul Dravid — who is one of the finest batters produced by India and was known as ‘The Wall’.

Pakistan are currently batting after dismissing New Zealand for 449 in their first innings.

Earlier, Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel had combined to lift New Zealand from 345-9 with an invaluable 104 runs for the 10th wicket.

Henry smashed eight boundaries and two sixes in his career-best 68 not out, improving his previous high against Australia at Christchurch in 2016 by six runs.

Patel also bettered his previous Test-best of 20 — against England last year — by scoring 35 before he was the last wicket to fall, caught off spinner Abrar Ahmed.

Naseem took the day´s first wicket when he bowled Ish Sodhi for 11 with a ball that cut through sharply.

Blundell, who was 30 overnight, reached his fifty with a boundary and a single off Abrar Ahmed. He hit six boundaries in his 51 before being bowled by Ahmed.

The spinner then had Tim Southee stumped for ten, before Henry and Patel prolonged the innings, helping New Zealand cross the 400-mark.

Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with 4-149 while Naseem Shah (3-71) and Agha Salman (3-75) were the other successful bowlers.

The two-match series is tied after the first Test, also in Karachi, ended in a draw.