COVERED SPRING 2020

11 @TRENTBRIDGE HASEEB HAMEED “YOU CAN PLAN AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, BUT CERTAIN THINGS JUST FALL INTO PLACE WHEN THEY’RE MEANT TO HAPPEN.” Haseeb Hameed always provides good value for your shots. “And the Pavilion is so special. I’ve played here several times now and every time I walk out to bat, with people clapping you on the way down, it gives you a buzz through your body. “Once signing for Notts was done, I needed to get my head down, get to know the lads, get to know the coaching staff and get to work. “The lads have made me feel comfortable straight away and the coaches have been incredible. “I feel like I’ve been here a lot longer than I have and that’s testament to the environment that’s been created. “The lads here – and everyone involved in the club – are really genuine, nice- hearted, good people too. “I’m not sure if it gets spoken about a lot, but in terms of getting people with the right personalities, this club has got it right. I’m really enjoying it so far and long may it continue. “This is it now. This is my new focus. The new chapter in my life.” A devout Muslim for whom faith comes first, what better way to make peace with the past and move on with a clear mind than to complete a life-affirming pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. “You can plan as much as you want, but certain things just fall into place when they’re meant to happen,” he says. “I’d done one previously, when I was 14, which was an incredible experience. But, at that stage, I hadn’t delved that deeply into my faith. “Being a bit older and having been through more experiences in life made it even more special this time. “I’d been wanting to go on this pilgrimage for the last three years. I’d say it and I’d start to make plans, but it never fell into place. “This time it did, and it happened at the right time for me. I went away for ten days with my sister and had a wonderful time.