"I try to bowl to my potential and have also started batting a little bit. I am trying to perform with the bat as well to become an all rounder," said Rehman.
NEW DELHI: Well aware that left-arm spin was not as saleable an art as any other cricketing skill unless the bowler is a phenomenal Monty Panesar, Pakistan's Abdur Rehman has set his eyes on an all-rounder's slot to become a regular feature in the national team.
"I try to bowl to my potential and have also started batting a little bit. I am trying to perform with the bat as well to become an all rounder," said Rehman.
The 27-year-old spinner, who made his Test debut in last month's Test series against South Africa, scalped 11 wickets to emerge as the highest wicket-taker for the home side during the two matches.
He also has nine wickets to his credit in as many one-day internationals.
Despite his impressive feats of grabbing five and six-wicket hauls in back-to-back matches against South Africa during his Under-19 days, Rehman got limited opportunities in the international circuit due to abundance of spinners in the form of all rounders like current captain Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi.
"We have Afridi, who helps me a lot. My captain also supports me. There are other seniors also who do help me," said the bowler who is on his third visit to India.
Despite his exemplary success with the ball, Rehman said he only aims at containing the batsmen.
"My only aim is to contain batsmen and stop the run flow. I do not go after wickets instead I keep correct line and length and in the process also get success," he said.
On the new ball change rule in ODIs, Rehman said, "It's effect would depend on the nature of the pitch."
Rehman said crowd behaviour does not bother him much when he plays.
"I simply concentrate on cricket and do not listen to the crowd. They are there to clap at whatever you do," he said.
His 26-year-old teammate Rao Iftikhar Anjum said it was important to have variation in pace in today's cricket as the players were constantly being followed by the opposition teams.
"Variation is very important today as you are being studied always," he said.
On his own performance, Iftikhar said he was satisfied with his present performance.
"I am happy with the way I am bowling. My priority is line and length and to contain batsmen."
The pacer said with batsmen dominating the game, it was imperative for the teams to score more than 300 to have any hopes of winning.
"Now a days 250 is not enough," he said.
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