Rajab Ali (footballer)

Rajab Ali (born 6 March 1997 ) is a Pakistani footballer who plays as a midfielder for Khan Research Laboratories and the Pakistan national team.

Early life
Belonging to the ethnic Hazara community, Rajab was born in Quetta in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. At the age of 10, Rajab started to pursue his football aspirations. Initially, his family hoped to prioritize his studies, but Ali remained dedicated to football despite the scarcity of resources for the sport.

Early career
Ali started his football career following an announcement about an under-13 tournament and successfully made it into the Balochistan under-13 football team. He continued his path by also playing for the under-14 and under-15 teams.

However, when the under-16 championship was scheduled in Mali Bagh in Quetta, Ali's parents expressed concerns about security issues in Balochistan, leading them to hesitate about allowing him to prepare for the championship. Despite the opposition from his family, Ali persevered and attended the 10-day training camp. His determination bore fruit when he earned a spot in the Balochistan Championship and subsequently journeyed to Lahore Football House.

Baloch Quetta
Ali started playing for Baloch Quetta in 2014. In 2016, Ali won the Balochistan cup with Quetta, scoring a goal in a 8–2 victory against Jaffarabad. In 2016, Ali also played for the Pakistan Police department in the 2016 Pakistan Football Federation Cup.

Khan Research Laboratories
Impressed by his performance, Pakistan Premier League departmental side Khan Research Laboratories extended an invitation for him to join their ranks in 2017.

International career
Ali was first selected for the Pakistan under-16 team for the 2013 SAFF U-16 Championship held in Nepal. He was subsequently made captain for the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification. Ali also participated in the 2014 edition of the Street Child World Cup held in Brazil.

In December 2018, Ali participated in Pakistan tour to Qatar for test matches as a preparation for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, however he was dropped for the final squad. He made his senior international debut on 12 October 2023 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Cambodia, which ended in a 0–0 draw.

Personal life
In 2014, Ali opened the Hazara Football Academy, intended as a training academy due to the lack of resources in football.

Initially, the academy only trained men players. In 2020, the academy expanded the training program to women players. It is providing a future for players who play on the streets instead of playing in football stadiums.