COVERED 2024 Spring

11 @TRENTBRIDGE HASEEB HAMEED “IT’S FINE TO WANT MORE, THE HUNGER TO BE BETTER CAN BE IMPORTANT. BUT IT BECOMES UNHEALTHY WHEN YOU DON’T STOP TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY.” Haseeb Hameed Respect, he says, is an act which holds high priority in his life, stemming from his devotion to the religious teachings of Islam.The clarity and guidance he has gained from his faith have been exceptional tools in a career which can be both rewarding and cruel. “For me, religion is at the forefront of everything I do,” he says. “It helps me to put perspective on things. I’ve always said that cricket is such a huge part of my life, but sometimes you can - in your own head - make it too important. “Having this perspective then allows me to enjoy the game again, which is why everyone started playing in the first place.When it’s your job, sometimes you almost forget to enjoy it and you lose your passion for the game.” Gratitude, equally, is a significant pillar of the faith.Without it, the all-too-human lust for more can cause a damaging imbalance, he explains. “In the world we live in now, what we individually have can be broadcast for everyone to see.You see some people living seemingly perfect lives, which is never truly the case. “In Islam you are encouraged to look at those who have less than you; sometimes we’ll feel like we have the toughest lives in the world, when in reality we haven’t. “It’s fine to want more, the hunger to be better can be important, as it shows that you are driven and ambitious, but it becomes unhealthy when you don’t stop to appreciate what you have already.” Hameed is an unwavering believer in fate. Having awaited the exchanging of paperwork and handing over of keys for a new home inWest Bridgford for the best part of a year, the latest chapters of both his career and personal life have surfaced simultaneously.