Anyone who believes cricket corruption might involve just a few players and a few domestic T20 matches is naive.
Under the surface, who knows what has been happening - and for how long?
Fortunately, statements made to the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit by Brendon McCullum and Lou Vincent have been leaked to the media.
Why is it fortunate?
Because the unit's apparent inaction is concerning and suspicious.
McCullum reported approaches made to him in 2008 and nothing appears to have come of that.
He has been reinterviewed twice since then and Vincent has confessed to his involvement.
The obvious question is why are things taking so long to be dealt with?
The anti-corruption unit is dragging its feet. It needs the disinfectant of sunlight to begin to cleanse the sport.
Remember, too, that Pakistani cricketers found guilty of spot fixing in England were revealed by a newspaper sting, not by the authorities.
Remember it was repeated media revelations that finally led to drug cheating confessions from Lance Armstrong.
Cycling and Tour de France authorities turned a blind eye to the systematic and widespread doping wherever and whenever possible.
Cricket officialdom is now suffering speculation that it is guilty of the same behaviour.
It seems the wish of cricket administrators is to try to hide as much dirty linen as possible.
If they think they can get away with obfuscation and dragging the chain, they will do so.
And, when push comes to shove, some observers believe they could well be trying to follow cycling's earlier example, throwing a few dispensable players to the lions while trying to protect bigger names.
At the same time, it is disturbing cricket's anti-corruption unit appears to be on the verge of losing what independence it supposedly has.
There are moves to have it reviewed and proposals it report directly to the ICC's head.
And who is the incoming chairman?
None other than Narayanaswami Srinivasan, who was stripped of the presidency of the Indian cricket board by the Indian Supreme Court while allegations of Indian Cricket League corruption are investigated.
His son-in-law was indicted for passing inside information to bookmakers and is in jail, and Mr Srinivasan bought the Chennai Super Kings team, itself tangled in potential scandal.
All his interests surely must tell him not to expose the depth of dirty dealings.
The unit's task is hard enough - and its record so far mediocre enough - without it being hobbled further.
Moreover, the reaction of the unit to questions about the leaks inspires little confidence.
It appears its primary focus is on the leaks and who was responsible for them, when what actually matters is not the messenger but the message and its substance.
Chris Cairns, reportedly centre to many current allegations, has alluded to dark forces at work.
This remains to be seen, but in at least one way his accusation could be correct.
Given the struggles for supremacy in governing the game, the personalities and characters involved in cricket world-wide, and perhaps most tellingly the money now swirling around the grand old game - especially in gambling circles - there will inevitably be ''power plays''.
But the claims are too serious to be further ignored and, hopefully, the matter now has enough public momentum that even the punishment of a few sacrificial players will be insufficient to appease.
The aphorism ''it's just not cricket'' has never been less accurate.
The game has seemingly well and truly caught the cancer of corruption, undermining both the meaning and joy of sport.
Take away trust in what is happening on the field, and little is left.
Sweeping and decisive action is required to restore the collapsed faith of many cricket supporters.
Unfortunately, given cricket's apparent tolerance of match and spot fixing in the past, it is difficult to believe effective cleansing will take place.
For far too long the ICC has been too tolerant of people involved in such behaviour.
It has simply shown insufficient will to root out the evil in the game.
It is past time the organisation found some backbone.
