Karachi, July 6 (IANS) Immediately after taking over as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman, Nasim Ashraf vowed to pave the way for cricket’s inclusion in the 2012 London Olympics. Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, replaced Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga as the new ACC chief for a two-year period during the Council’s Annual General Meeting held Sunday.

Ashraf said he would use his stint to lobby for the promotion of cricket in all part of the continent. More importantly, he said that the powerful Asian bloc will help supplement the efforts of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to get cricket included in the Olympics.

“Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world and deserves to be in the Olympics,” said Ashraf.

“We will try our level best to get it included in the London Olympics.”

Ashraf said that cricket has already made a major breakthrough by being included in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Ashraf said that over the years Asia has emerged as the driving force behind world cricket. But he was quick to add that instead of using this power for individual gains, Asian cricket nations will divert it towards the larger interest of the game.

Ashraf said that the next Asia Cup will be hosted by one of the associate nations while the ACC will make sure that the Afro-Asia Cup is held regularly in a bid to keep healthy relations with African nations.