Rajab Ali

Rajab Ali (born 6 March 1997 ) is a Pakistani footballer who plays as a midfielder for Khan Research Laboratories and the Pakistan national team. Ali is also a member of the Pakistan national futsal team, playing with the team at the 2026 SAFF Futsal Championship.

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.

Club career

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. 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.

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.

Futsal career Ali represented the Pakistan national futsal team at the 2026 SAFF Futsal Championship.

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.

Career statistics

International

Honours Khan Research Laboratories

Pakistan Premier League: 2018–19