Afghanistan premier spinner Rashid Khan on Tuesday (January 26) said he wants to establish himself as a “proper all-rounder” in the future after impressing all with his batting in the recent three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Ireland in the UAE.

On Tuesday, Rashid produced a brilliant all-round performance to help Afghanistan beat Ireland by 36 runs in the final ODI of the Kardan University Cup to secure a 3-0 whitewash in the UAE. He was also adjudged Player of the Match in the third ODI for his all-round show against Ireland.  

This is Afghanistan's first-ever clean sweep in an ODI series, thanks to Rashid’s all-round exploits as he scored a brilliant knock of 48 and then took 4 scalps to ensure Paul Stirling’s century couldn’t snatch the record win from his side in the final ODI on Tuesday.

The right-hander showed immense improvement in his batting as he scored 55 and 48 in his two innings while took 7 wickets in the three ODIs against Ireland to help Afghanistan win the ODI series 3-0.

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Rashid said after the match: “Exactly (I see myself as an all-rounder). I said earlier that I started my career as a batsman. But later I worked more on my bowling. I am working on my batting now and I have got areas to improve on and I want to be a proper all-rounder in the future.”

He added, “When the team needs me I have to deliver. In the end, when we need 40 or 50 runs, then you have to stand up and deliver for the team. Yes, I am considering myself as a proper all-rounder, and whenever I get an opportunity, doesn't matter if I come at number eight or number nine, I just need to have that mentality that I have got skills and talents and I have to just go and express that.”

Praising Ireland’s Stirling's extraordinary performance, particularly against spin, in the series, Rashid said: “I think he (Stirling) played exceptionally well throughout the series and he plays the spin so well and on this track, playing against the best in the world and then you are making hundred is something more than amazing.”

Meanwhile, the spinner has insisted that he is not someone who has to change his approach or mindset for the two white-ball formats of the game because he bowls at the end of the innings.

Rashid further explained, “I don't think I have to change my mindset because mostly I am bowling at the end of the innings when teams and the players are going after the bowlers and they want to score runs. You will see that I am bowling my last four overs in the last 10, and at the same time, I am bowling short spells of about two-three overs.

I don't think like it's a T20 or ODI, I just try to keep it simple for myself. I know my plans and I know my line and length matter whichever format I am playing because as long as you are bowling your best delivery it is the best in any format.”

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On the advantages of playing in several T20 leagues, Rashid said: “It helps you as a player because you know I played in CPL and in Big Bash; different wickets and different conditions and then I played here in the UAE and I already played in the IPL... you know a bit of the condition but at the same time you got to have that hard so that whenever the team needs to play ODIs and Tests and T20, I am around.”

He continued, “As a player, you got to keep in mind that I have got to be fully fit, so whenever there is an opportunity for you to deliver you need to stand up.”

Speaking about playing the sport after a long gap due to pandemic, the Afghanistan star said: “We had a long break…eight-nine months break before we came to the ground.

I am feeling quite happy playing cricket because it's something different. We are missing people a lot but it's a good thing that people are watching on TV and enjoying your cricket.”

Rashid signed off by saying, “I think there were many things going around in my mind and it's most difficult to go out and do outside training. I was trying to keep myself fit and busy and as soon as the CPL started I decided to fly because we played so much in the last few years you know.

I think six-seven months doesn't affect you much if you have the fitness and have a positive mindset.”

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)