Pakistan cricketers and match officials bound to tour England will be tested twice for COVID-19 before their departure for the bio-secure three-Test and three-T20I series in August-September. 

When the entire touring party assembles in Lahore, the first test will be taken on Monday (June 21), followed by the second on Wednesday (June 23), sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told PTI. 

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"The first Test will be taken in players’ and officials’ respective cities and areas of residence. The players will assemble in Lahore on Wednesday and the Board has arranged for a bio-secure floor for them in a five-star hotel where they will stay in isolation before taking the chartered flight," one source said.

It is understood that if a player or official tests positive of the Coronavirus, he won't be travelling to the UK, said the source, adding which is also "why the board has announced a reserve set of players for the tour."

The PCB is expected to sign an MOU with its English counterpart, the ECB, regarding the terms and conditions for the tour which is set to last till early September. 

The visitors, having already announced an extended 29-man playing squad, will go through a quarantine and training period before focusing on the on-field action. 

Players haven't been allowed to take their families with them for health safety purposes. 

(Inputs from PTI)