Kolkata: Bengal probables on Friday began their pre-season training under high performance manager Dr Vece Paes who has devised a programme focussing on the cricketers' fitness for the upcoming Ranji season.

The Peak Performance Programme, devised by Dr Paes, would keep the cricketers ready for the Ranji season, the father of tennis ace tennis player Leander Paes said.

Thirty-nine Bengal probables except for pacer Ranadeb Bose underwent the drills, held in two batches at the Eden Gardens in the morning.

All the six Indian Cricket League players, who have now switched sides availing BCCI's amnesty offer - Deep Dasgupta, Rohan Gavaskar, Eklakh Ahmed, Shib Sagar Singh, Subhamoy Das and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala - went through the training.

Bengal had announced a list of 35 probables and later added five more to it making it 40 cricketers who would under go training before beginning the season in the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup to be held in Hyderabad from September one to 15. Bengal's newly-appointed coach Roger Binny is expected to join the cricketers next week.

Happy with the progress, Dr Paes said, "Everybody is in good condition. After a few days, we will come out with specific drills that will be different for bowlers, wicketkeepers and batsmen."

CAB XI will open their campaign in the Moin-Ud-Dowlah Gold Cup against Vidarbha CA XI on September 1. Their next match will be against Kerala on September 3-4, followed by their last league match against hosts Hyderabad on September 6-7.

The semifinal is scheduled from September 9-11, while the final will be played from September 13-15.