World Cup 2015: Bangladesh Fans Excited Ahead of Historic Quarter-Final

Shahadat Mallick came all the way from the United States to watch the World Cup and his beloved Bangladesh, a team which feels like family to him. (Full World Cup Coverage | Points Table)

"I have seen history," said Mallick, who was in Adelaide last Monday to see the Tigers claim a famous 15-run win over England which took them into the quarterfinals for the first time.

"I watched the win over England that took us to the quarters and it's a great delight for me."

"I grew up in Dhaka and have some relatives who have played for Bangladesh, so cricket is very much in my blood but now I rarely get an opportunity to watch as I am based in US."

Mallick was just one of hundreds of Bangladeshi fans who thronged Hamilton's Seddon Park for their last World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand on Friday.

"I have come with my family of five," said Shoukat Hossain, who is from Tauranga. "It's great to see Bangladesh perform so well in the World Cup."

Hossain has already bought a ticket for quarterfinal in Melbourne where Bangladesh would meet defending champions India on March 19.

"We will not allow India to beat us," said Nafees, Hossain's son, a student at Hamilton University.

"Every time in the past we left the World Cup empty-handed but this time we can finish at our best."

Nuzrat Malik came to Hamilton from Melbourne to watch his first game of the tournament.

"I was reluctant at the start because I thought Bangladesh would not do well but once they beat England I decided to watch the remaining games and I will watch the quarterfinal as well as the MCG is close to my house," she said. (Mahmudullah Key for Bangladesh in Quarters: Shakib)

Local fan Shane McDonald has his sights set on a share of a one million dollars being offered by a New Zealand brewer for fans who can catch the ball clean if it lands in the crowd.

"I am up for the competition even though I am not fully fit," said McDonald who was on a crutch after a car accident last month. "I hope the stick doesn't hamper me from catching it clean."

Rebecca Smith said she is dreaming of a New Zealand-Australia final.

"I want New Zealand to play Australia in the final and beat them at the MCG," said Smith of the March 29 final. "We want to beat the Aussies for the title, no less than this."

Carl Andrew echoed the same feelings.

"Rugby or cricket, we are bitter rivals with the Aussies and if the title comes with a win over Australia it will be the icing on the cake," said Andrew.

New Zealand outlasted Australia by one wicket in a Pool A match in Auckland last month.

"That was February 28 and we will go one step further on March 29," he said.