Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal feels that a turnaround in the three-match One-Day International series against South Africa is still possible and suggested it is not fair to blame only the bowling unit.

Bangladesh bowling unit has been on the receiving end in both the Test matches as well as in the opening ODI and if they are not able to lift their game, South Africa are likely to canter to a series win with one to play. The visitors, though, are expected to be bolstered by the return of Tamim, who did not feature in the second Test and in the first ODI but is likely to play after recovering from injury.

Tamim threw his support behind the bowlers ahead of the crucial clash. "The way they batted [in the opening game] it seemed even 320 wouldn't have been enough but I believe at times even 280 or 290 is enough," said Tamim on Tuesday (October 17). "Rather than blaming bowling or fielding unit if we can play as a group it is possible to defend 280 or 320 runs.

"The batting unit can have a rough patch while the bowling unit can also have a rough time but we should not forget that the pace bowlers played a big part behind our success in the last two years. It is fair to criticise [bowlers] as they were not up to the mark but we must not lose our faith on them."

Tamim said that if the bowlers can give them some early breakthroughs they will be able to put South Africa under pressure. "If they can provide early breakthroughs and we can remove few wickets quickly we definitely have a chance as they mostly depend on their top-order," he pointed out. "Our bowlers have the potential and I am sure they will make a comeback."

Tamim, though, did not ask only the bowlers to lift their game. He had no hesitations in asking the batsmen to contribute more. "There were times when some of our batsmen were unlucky but we must make our start count as 30s and 40s do not serve our purpose," he said.

KK