COVERED 2024 Spring

COVERED 10 TRENTBRIDGE.CO.UK H aseeb Hameed has had the majority of the winter to digest his appointment and mastermind his plan for the year – and years – ahead, with the baton passed officially in mid-November. Talking on the grassy bank of the River Trent – the unmistakable floodlights of Trent Bridge towering in the distance and shards of the Trent Bridge Inn’s fabled brickwork still visible through the bare branches hanging above the carriageway – there is a sense that his work is truly about to begin. He begins this interview speaking fondly of the setting;Victoria Embankment has played host to an occasional jog, he says. Does Haseeb Hameed have a profound relationship with this particular form of cardiorespiratory exercise? Is this what makes him tick? Accompanied by a laugh, that train of thought is quickly derailed. “It’s certainly not a hobby,” he jokes, “but generally I find myself wanting to stay busy. I’m quite a fidgety person who doesn’t do well with idle time. “That’s why I love those long days that we have at Trent Bridge during the off-season or between matches, they’re my favourite training days because I just want to be productive all the time. Once I’m wedged into my room, I just waste away.” One quick and efficient photoshoot later, we slowly meander back south of the Trent.With the small talk over, the more serious questions begin to surface as we delve deeper into the mind of Nottinghamshire’s next Captain. It becomes clear that valuing individuals for their character and allowing them to play to their strengths are two key themes to Hameed’s leader- ship approach. “I LOVE THOSE LONG DAYS THAT WE HAVE AT TRENT BRIDGE DURING THE OFF-SEASON OR BETWEEN MATCHES, THEY’RE MY FAVOURITE TRAINING DAYS BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE ALL THE TIME.” Haseeb Hameed