What is the best time to wash and shroud the deceased if the funeral prayer is scheduled for after Asr prayer and the procedures were completed in the morning?

The Sunnah is to hasten the preparation and burial of the deceased. However, if there is a necessity to delay the burial, then hasten his washing and shrouding. There is no harm in delaying this until just before the prayer if it is absolutely necessary to delay it. But if the delay leads to the decomposition of the body, then it is not permissible, due to the dishonor it entails for the deceased.