Lahore: In a surprise move, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday included Yawar Saeed and Shafqat Rana in the team management for the T20 World Cup despite their controversial past.

While Yawar has been appointed as Manager, Shafqat will be associate manager in the eight-man support staff for the event in the West Indies.

PCB had sacked both of them from the team management after the Champions Trophy tournament last year, following reports that they encouraged groupism among players.

After the tournament, where Pakistan lost in the semi-finals, the then skipper Younis Khan had accused Yawar and encouraging a group of players to challenge his authority.

Yawar was also accused of taking seven players to the Chairman of the Board where they spoke against Younis and demanded his removal as captain.

"The idea of bringing back Yawar and even Shafqat is amazing because of their background and at a time when the Board has announced a new coaching staff for the team," former Test captain Aamir Sohail said.

The support staff also includes Waqar Younis as coach, Ejaz Ahmed as assistant coach and a security officer.

Yawar was also a member of the probe committee that recently recommended bans and fines on seven players.