As the US observes Good Friday on April 3 ahead of Easter Sunday on April 5, most essential services will continue without disruption since the day is not designated as a federal holiday.In the Christian calendar, Good Friday marks the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and has long been associated with mourning, penance and fasting. Easter Sunday, which follows, celebrates the resurrection and comes at the end of the 40-day Lent period. The dates shift annually as part of the liturgical cycle of “moveable feasts”.

USPS services on Good Friday 2026

Operations at the United States Postal Service will proceed as usual. Postal counters will be open and regular mail delivery schedules will be maintained across the country.

Bank operations on April 3

Commercial banks are expected to function normally, given that Good Friday is not a federal holiday in the US. Branch-level timings, however, may differ, and customers may need to verify with local offices.

UPS delivery and store status

Services offered by UPS, including pickups and deliveries, will continue as per routine schedules. UPS Store outlets will also remain operational.

Will FedEx services remain operational on Good Friday?

FedEx will run standard delivery and pickup operations, with its office locations open for customers on April 3.

Other services and closures

Federal offices will remain open, though select state or local government entities may choose to observe the day. Retail outlets, restaurants and transport systems are expected to function normally. School schedules may vary depending on whether institutions observe the religious holiday.With no nationwide shutdown in place, Good Friday in the US typically sees continuity in banking, logistics and public services, even as it holds religious significance ahead of Easter weekend.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken a decisive step towards rebuilding its national setup by appointing Ryan van Niekerk as National Bowling Coach and Jordan Gregory as National Fielding and Spin Bowling Coach. Both have signed two-year contracts, marking the beginning of a fresh phase for the team after a challenging period.

The duo will officially start their roles on April 15, 2026, and will operate from the National High Performance Centre. Their responsibilities will extend beyond just the senior men’s side, as they will oversee the development of players across all national teams. This broader focus signals SLC’s intent to strengthen its talent pipeline while also addressing immediate performance concerns.

These appointments are not isolated decisions but part of a larger strategy to reshape Sri Lanka’s cricketing structure. By investing in specialized coaching roles, the board aims to bring consistency, discipline, and modern techniques into the system—areas where the team has struggled in recent years.

Experienced coaching duo appointed to revive Sri Lankan cricket

Ryan van Niekerk arrives with solid international experience, having worked with the Netherlands national team between 2023 and 2026. During his time there, he served both as bowling coach and interim head coach, playing a key role in guiding the side through multiple ICC events, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026.

In Sri Lanka, his primary focus will be on improving the country’s fast-bowling resources. Once known for producing world-class pacers, Sri Lanka has struggled with consistency in this department in recent years. Van Niekerk’s task will be to develop pace options across formats while ensuring bowlers are better prepared for international demands.

Alongside him, Jordan Gregory will take charge of fielding and spin bowling – two areas that have historically been strengths for Sri Lanka but have seen a noticeable decline. Gregory has previously worked with Netherlands Cricket as a fielding consultant and has experience in major tournaments, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2023. His role will involve raising fielding standards and sharpening spin bowling skills, especially at the grassroots and development levels.

Also READ: South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen announces retirement from international cricket

New coaches set to work under Gary Kirsten

These changes come soon after the appointment of Gary Kirsten as head coach of the national men’s team. Kirsten, known for guiding India to their 2011 World Cup win and later taking South Africa to the top of ICC rankings, brings credibility and experience to the setup. Together, this new coaching group represents a well-rounded effort to bring stability and direction back to Sri Lankan cricket.

The overhaul follows a disappointing run of results that exposed several weaknesses in the team. Sri Lanka’s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which they co-hosted, ended in disappointment with four straight losses and an early exit. This was compounded by underwhelming performances in the 2025 Asia Cup and a tri-series in Pakistan, making it clear that change was necessary.

Also WATCH: Ugly scenes unfold as DC and LSG supporters trade punches at Ekana Stadium during an IPL match

KKR wins toss, opt to field (Image: IPL)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the toss and opted to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 6th match of IPL 2026. While left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar came in for SRH, KKR chose to stick with the same playing XI, banking on continuity after a positive showing in their previous outing. Both the teams lost their opening game.Rahane backs bowling unit, highlights conditions”There is always room for improvement but there were a lot of positives from the last game – batting unit wise we batted really well. As I said in the post-match presentation, bowling wise there was a bit of inexperience but they will do really well. We generally don’t see this much of grass, last couple of days rain around and that’s the reason we are bowling first. Generally there is dew but this wicket should remain good for 40 overs, not sure with the dew as there’s a breeze going around, but generally at 7:30-8 the dew comes in. He (Cam Green) is doing all the things which he needs to do, physio and our trainer are looking after him. You will see him bowling very soon. Going with the same team,” Rahane said after winning toss. SRH focus on execution after being put in to bat”I would have elected to bowl first. But getting to bat first here at Eden it comes to the same point – be sure how the wicket is going to play and watch the ball and play your best game. We need to come up with the best game show for us. It all depends on the mindset, if you feel fresh before the game, you just go out and do the basics right. Only one point I would say is execution, when you plan something and execute it in a good manner then you will be on the winning side, we need to be calm even if we are not in a very good situation and that will make the difference. We will look to keep it simple in this game. (When will Cummins be available?) I don’t know yet, but he should be ready as soon as possible, he makes a big difference, with the bat as well, keeping him in the team is such a plus point. We have one change – Shivang comes in, keeping the wicket-taking options open, he has bowled well in the practice sessions and we are giving him the chance, and I think he is going to do well,” Ishan Kishan during toss.

Impact subs and playing XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, David PayneSunrisers Hyderabad Impact Subs: Harshal Patel, Liam Livingstone, Eshan Malinga, R Smaran, Sakib HussainKolkata Knight Riders XI: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing MuzarabaniKolkata Knight Riders Impact Subs: Finn Allen, Manish Pandey, Saurabh Dubey, Rovman Powell, Tejasvi Dahiya

US stock markets declined sharply on Thursday, while oil prices surged, after President Donald Trump vowed to continue military action against Iran and did not provide a clear timeline for de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, according to AP.The S&P 500 fell 1.1%, with nearly three out of every four stocks in the benchmark index trading lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 545 points, or 1.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.6% as of 9:52 a.m. Eastern time.The broad-based weakness in US equities was mirrored across global markets, with major indices in Europe and Asia also trading in the red.The sell-off followed Trump’s national address on Wednesday, where he said the United States would continue to hit Iran “extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” dampening hopes of a near-term resolution to the conflict.Markets had been gaining earlier in the week on expectations that the war could end soon. Despite Thursday’s losses, major indices remain on track to close the week with gains.Thursday also marked the final trading session of the week for Wall Street, as markets will remain shut on Friday for the Good Friday holiday.Crude oil prices continued to be the primary driver of volatility in global markets. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a key route through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes during peacetime–has been severely curtailed, tightening global supply.The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped 7.8% to $109.10 per barrel. US benchmark crude surged 11.7% to $111.92 per barrel. Oil prices had been easing towards $100 per barrel earlier in the week before rising sharply following Trump’s remarks.Financial markets have witnessed sharp swings since the onset of the conflict, with investor sentiment shifting rapidly in response to developments and policy signals.Just earlier this week, the S&P 500 had briefly approached a 10% decline from its record high — a level that is commonly referred to by investors as a “correction.” The index had rebounded on Tuesday and Wednesday on optimism around a possible end to the conflict.Sectorally, airline and travel-related stocks were among the biggest losers on Thursday, reflecting concerns over higher fuel costs and reduced travel demand. United Airlines fell 6.1%, while Carnival dropped 5%.Energy stocks, however, moved higher in line with rising crude prices. Exxon Mobil gained 2.3%, while Chevron advanced 3.4%.In the bond market, Treasury yields remained relatively stable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 4.33% from 4.32% late Wednesday.