Cape Town - Proteas legend Allan Donald, who played in four Cricket World Cups, says what happened to the South African side in 1999 was a tragedy. 

It has been 20 years since THAT runout when Donald and Lance Klusener fell one run short in the World Cup semi-final against Australia at Edgbaston. 

It was a moment that will haunt South African cricket fans forever.

"My memory that will always stand out is the '99 World Cup, not because I was run out in the semi-final, but the team that I played with, that team had the belief. I just knew that team had the ability to win the World Cup for sure," Donald told Cricinfo.

"The disappointing fact of what happened was just a real tragedy."

Donald also represented the Proteas in the 1992, 1996 and 2003 tournaments. 

"To have played and represented your country for four World Cups has been brilliant, but not having won any of them has probably been the most disappointing thing of all," he said.

"I hope this South African side pulls it through, for the country, it needs that sort of thing, so I really hope that they can do something quite special."

The Proteas play their first World Cup match on May 30 against England at The Oval.