While recalling South Africa’s heartbreaking ouster in the 1999 World Cup, Allan Donald on Wednesday, 21 March, has called their semi-final defeat a real tragedy.
Donald, who played four Cricket World Cups for South Africa, is still disappointed with the fact that the Proteas side narrowly missed out on the 1999 World Cup final only because of his run-out.
On Wednesday, Donald told ESPNcricinfo, “My memory that will always stand out is the 1999 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. The disappointing fact of what happened was just a real tragedy.”
While former South African pacer has picked England as red-hot favorite for the 2019 World Cup, saying the Lions not only have the home advantage but also a well-settled side which makes them favorites for the prestigious title which they have never won.
Former England coach added, “On current form, you've got to say that England are playing a brand of cricket that's saying to others, 'If you're going to beat us, you're going to have to play out of your boots. They've put down a marker for everyone else.”
Meanwhile, Donald has admitted that South Africa will have to do "something quite special" to make it to the semi-final in the upcoming 50-over event.
He further added on the same, “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.”
Like others, Donald was also impressed by the West Indies’ show against England in the recent ODI series, saying the Caribbean team will be the one to watch out in the World Cup 2019.
He signed off by saying, “Watch out for the West Indies, I say, watch out for the West Indies! There's just something there, there's a new spark there that I think the rest of the world wants to see – West Indies competing like they are right now. The men in maroon, for me, I would say, be wary of them, they're going to really be a factor in this World Cup.”
(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)
