The 24-year-old has taken 57 wickets in his last 10 Tests and this week completed figures of five for 46 to guide Pakistan to a series-levelling win against West Indies in Jamaica.
"My ambition is to cement my place in the Pakistan one-day squad. Essex gives me the best opportunity to show the selectors that I can also be an effective bowler in ODIs," Kaneria told Reuters on Friday.
Although Kaneria has taken 132 wickets in 28 Tests he has played just 12 one-day internationals and was not picked for any limited-overs games in the Caribbean.
"Essex play me in every form of the game including Twenty20 cricket. My last year's stint with them helped me improve a lot as a bowler. This time I am targeting the one-day matches to catch the attention of the selectors," he added.
England and India are scheduled to tour Pakistan in the next few months, playing six Tests and 10 one-dayers.
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Kaneria, who finished last season with championship 63 wickets for Essex, described his recent duel with top West Indian batsman Brian Lara as a great learning experience.
"He is no doubt one of the finest players of spin today," he said. "To bowl to him was a challenge and to get his wicket for a duck in Jamaica was one of my most memorable wickets."
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