Guwahati, Jan. 4: Assam will miss the services of ace paceman Abu Naschim Ahmed in the Ranji Trophy Plate group semifinal match against Orissa as he has been named in the 16-member Indian under-19 squad for the twin tours of New Zealand and Malaysia this month.

Ahmed will have to report in Mumbai on January 8 for a four-day conditioning camp from January 9 to 12. The squad, led by Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, will leave for New Zealand on January 12.

The U-19 side will play three Tests and three one-day matches against New Zealand before heading for Malaysia for six one-dayers, two each against England, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Ahmed was also part of the Indian squad that comprehensively beat Pakistan in September 2006, winning both the Tests and all four ODIs.

He has so far represented India against Australia in a home series followed by an England tour last year.

However, Assam opening batsman Parvez Aziz, who was instrumental in most of Ind-ia’s victories in England last year and had also led the East Zone squad in the recent under-19 inter-zonal tournament, missed a berth in the New Zealand-bound squad.

Despite two half-centuries in the inter-zonals and several crucial innings for East Zone, the selectors felt there was room for improvement in his performance after a lean ph-ase in the Pakistan tour, followed by a mediocre show in the Ranji Trophy, said Assam Cricket Association secretary Bikash Baruah. He claimed that he had spoken to the selectors.

Aziz, who has been on a hectic schedule for over a year representing Assam in the under-19 as well as Ranji Trophy, managed to add only 91 runs from the four innings of the three Ranji matches this season.

Ahmed notched seven wickets off four matches in the under-19 inter-zonals after a consistent Ranji season. He accounted for 20 wickets off five Ranji matches.

The ACA thinktank feels that though Ahmed will be replaced by teenaged quickie Pritam Das or all-rounder Dhiraj Goswami in the match aga-inst Orissa at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack from January 10-14, the opponents will enjoy a psychological edge over the Assam bowling attack.

Assam will qualify for the Super League in the next season if they manage to qualify for the final.